Baptists oppose offshore and mandatory detention

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
29 November 2011
Baptists oppose offshore and mandatory detention

The National Council of Australian Baptist Ministries has urged the federal government to process claims for refugee status within 90 days, and called on churches to oppose mandatory detention of asylum seekers and refugees.

The National Chair of Australian Baptist Ministries, Rev Dr John Beasy, announced the policy which was adopted at a National Council meeting held in Melbourne on November 23.

In the wide-ranging statement, ABM urged the Gillard government to place all child asylum seekers in appropriate community care while their claims for refugee status were assessed, and to cease the practice of sending unaccompanied minors to third countries.

The statement called on all Australians to oppose xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, culture and religion, and challenged Australian politicians to demonstrate their moral convictions and to exercise non-partisan leadership in debates on immigration and refugee policy.

The new policy also called on the federal government to increase Australia's refugee intake over the next five years.

The ABM National Council encouraged its more than 900 member churches to oppose both offshore and mandatory detention of asylum seekers and refugees, to extend hospitality to asylum seekers and refugees, and to freely share with those in need.

Media contact Rod Benson 0412 421 678



Rev Rod Benson

Ethicist & Public Theologian

Tinsley Institute (Morling College)

M 120 Herring Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 P 02 9878 0201 F 02 9878 2175 M 0412 421 678 E rodb@morling.edu.au W http://www.morling.nsw.edu.au/tinsley_institute/public_theology/

BIRTH OF THE LAST-DAYS REMNANT

from David Wilkerson's blog...

Friday, November 25, 2011

BIRTH OF THE LAST-DAYS REMNANT

The prophet Samuel is a type of the last-days holy remnant—a prepared body of believers that rises out of the ruins of the old, decadent church.
Hannah, Samuel’s mother, birthed her son through bitter tears and much prayer. “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish” (1 Samuel 1:10).
Try to imagine the scene: Hannah was at the temple every day, on her knees before the altar, crushed and broken because she was childless. As she wept, her adversary—her husband’s other wife—made fun of her. “And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb” (1 Samuel 1:6).
There are three important things I want to point out from this passage:

• First, the remnant that Samuel represents is born in grief and intercession.
• Second, those who pray and grieve after God’s heart will be provoked by adversaries.
• And third, God’s remnant is always going to be misunderstood!

Note what happened to Hannah as she prayed: “And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, ‘How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!’” (1 Samuel 1:12-14). Eli and his sons represent the dying, corrupt church that has forsaken the Lord’s way. Eli was so out of touch—so dead in his spirit—he thought Hannah was drunk!
When Hannah was praying, she was filled with grief, burdened for the birth of a son. All she could do was move her lips because of her groaning in the Spirit. She prayed, “If You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and . . . will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11).
Here are two distinguishing marks of God’s holy remnant:

• They pray like Hannah. Their burden is deep and their heart is stirred because of the wickedness in God’s house.
• Like Hannah, they give themselves to prayer every day of their lives.

God wants to make you like that. He wants you to be able to touch Him and hear from Him. He wants to give you a ministry to others who will come to you with their burdens and trials. And as you pray for them, His Word will come forth!

Lawful Rebellion?

I was just reading the other day how Jesus confronted injustice in the form of a religious puppet government under Rome in Israel, and how he healed people in situations that got right in their face, and then rode into Jerusalem with crowds supporting him, forcing the authorities hand to acknowledge his divinity and reform society OR get rid of him. The rest is history. Their sin was condemned in his innocent death on the cross, by which we have life.

Looking at what is going on in the world at the moment with an immoral globalist cabal effectively ruling nations with increasing use of puppet governments, I have often wondered when someone would stand up against it. Hearing of this may be problematic with a mostly NWO controlled press mind you, but despite some large demonstrations going unreported in the mainstream media the past few years, mass strikes have now got to a stage where we are hearing of them. One flavour is the Occupy movement.

It seems to me that Occupy has at its genesis an understanding of common law issues and human rights. I have spoken to a Brisbane organiser, who was just a good bloke, and did not have some of the solid background some others seem to, so not everyone is fully informed of the absolute rights this movement is based on. It will however be interesting to see where it goes. Spain, in particular has incredible numbers involved.

One recent addition to visible dissent is http://www.tpuc.org, which is non-political web site based on a movement that has been going for a while. At first glance, it has some interesting info, for example 'Acts and Charters' which form the basis of British Law. These help this group counter the corporatised entities that are draining the average man of wealth and freedom. This is what essentially prompted this email. I'm going to read some of this stuff. Have a read if you are interested. If you find it interesting, have a look at one of my other blogs, Watching The New World Take Order.

Siev-X Art Exhibition

Siev-X was a boat that went down with many women and child refugees drowned some 10 years ago. An exhibition in the State Library, Brisbane commemorates this tragedy. Click on the photo to see my Picasa Web Album of this exhibition.

The toll rises: Christians need to find their voice.

The toll rises: Christians need to find their voice.

As Christians, we need to stand up for the widow, the orphan, the displaced, the refugee. We have embraced those affected by floods in our own land, but there are people in Pakistan and Solomon Islands (just two places from personal knowledge) living in tents after floods or tsunami. We also have refugees on our doorstep who need our care, and they are suffering mental anguish and breakdown in sub-human mandatory detention centres. The following from Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition in Australia highlights the severity of the situation. I believe Christ would have us do something to at least advocate for these people by lobbying our local members.


Steve B.
======


DARWIN TURNS TOXIC AS SELF-HARM/ATTEMPTED SUICIDE TOLL KEEPS RISING.
TIME TO END MANDATORY DETENTION

Two serious self harm/suicide attempts in one day have rocked the
Darwin detention centre.

On Monday, 17 October, two Kurdish asylum seekers both in their early
20s attempted suicide in the space of five hours, between 12.30 and
5.00pm. Both are believed to be have been in detention around 20
months. Both are believed to have been rejected and are now waiting
for a Federal Magistrates Court hearing.

The two incidents follow another hanging attempt only three days ago.
The welfare of the two men is not known. But asylum seekers inside the
detention had grave fears for both the men, one of whom was rushed to
hospital with severe bleeding.

“It is only a matter of time before there is a catastrophe in the
Darwin detention centre,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the
Refugee Action Coalition, “Only a week ago there were another three
incidents and that is only what we know about.

“The despair in the Darwin detention centre has turned toxic. There is
no duty of care – only damage control. Serco and the immigration
department are incapable of providing a safe environment for anyone.
Asylum seekers are finding it impossible to cope with an environment
in which self-harm and attempted suicide is a daily occurrence.

“The Minister has admitted that he has the power to use bridging visas
to get asylum seekers out of detention. There is no excuse for waiting
any longer. Darwin is desperate for a solution.

“Mandatory detention is not a deterrent. It is a form of systematic
abuse. Refugee advocates have been calling for human rights observers
to be placed in the detention centres for months. The need for some
independent oversight is obvious and even more obvious, is the need to
close the hell-holes.”

For more information contact Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

Jesus Blog: Sexual Purity- Is it Out-Dated?

Jesus Blog: Sexual Purity- Is it Out-Dated?: Sexual purity ...a phrase you barely hear about these days. You'd actually be likely to get a smirk or raise a brow if you mention sexual ...

GENERATE INCOME FROM HOME

We all would like more income. We would all like a better lifestyle. Here's your chance..

Join me in Send Out Cards!

Opportunity to learn more about refugees and make friends in these circles...

Urgent - Your online vote is needed - Herald Sun: 60% have voted YES to gay marriage(25.8.11)

To vote, click on the "Do you support gay marriage?" link below.  Takes less than 30 seconds.

This is urgent friends - the Greens have mustered a counter to the current gay marriage issue - see the  Salt Shakers article below.

We need to act

 

 PLEASE READ THIS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION

MPs report on marriage 'opinions' + web vote

The media are reporting on the Good News and bad news from yesterday's MPs 'reporting' on constituents opinions re possible changes to the 'Marriage Act. in Federal Parliament.

The Herald Suns heading says "Greens push for same-sex unions fails to win support" (live link)

"Most MPs who took part in the debate said their electorate did not support gay marriage, while just six said that their electorate supported change."

But they decided to have a vote on it so PLEASE VOTE NO

VOTE - Herald Sun  "Do you support gay marriage? (live link)

We are losing badly - I suspect this vote has been hijacked - but we must try to turn it around.

The ABC reports "Of the 30 MPs who took part in the debate, only five said that they would like same sex couples to be allowed to marry, and one other reported community support for a change to the Marriage Act.
But there was significant support for relationships to be legally recognised in some way, perhaps through a system of civil unions."

Action We must repeatedly show MPs and Senators the evidence - COMPROMISE FAILS.

As we reported yesterday - ANY GROUND GIVEN (legal recognition) will reinforce the perception that same-sex relationships are 'natural' and 'normal' AND WILL advance their cause towards marriage.

NO COUNTRY that has given same-sex 'marriage' has ever gone straight to first base - they have 'progressed' through incremental steps to reach their goal.

We must keep showing how ANY compromise WILL eventually lead to defeat.

Same-sex relationships are bad for society, bad for the individual, and VERY bad for children who get caught up in them - either by personally experimenting with such relationships or by being raised two parents of the same gender.

We must try to protect children - not simply placate selfish adults.

Peter Stokes
Executive Officer
Salt Shakers
p: (03) 9800 2855
m: 0413 084 145
w: www.saltshakers.org.au

"Katter is a loose cannon" says banker

I was talking to a local banker a few days ago, and as we talked about the nation, he stated that Bob Katter is a "loose cannon" and he thinks he is detrimental to Australian politics.

I quietly asked him if he had gained this opinion from the media, or if he had actually actually looked at Katter's Australian Party web site, in particular the Issues Page. He said "no". I challenged him to consider the issues raised on this page.

I challenge you also dear reader. Please do not just listen to the short snippets carefully extracted from long conversations and placed in another context by media with a barrow to push. If you want to be a thinking person, intelligent enough to form your own opinion, please look at the issues on the web site.

People have very short memories. Don't you remember when the numbers were tight between Liberal and Labor last federal election, that Bob looked like a sane man with some good things to say? That was certainly the way the media portrayed him then. Nothing has changed with Bob. The media has just changed its stance because of the barrow it is pushing for its masters.

You may find Bob Katter is not the lunatic the media has started to paint him as. Please, look; think for yourself. Feel free to comment AFTER you have looked :)

Steve B

ps. I am not trying to tell you to support Bob. I am merely trying to stop demonisation of a man with a conscience. If you are a Christian, look and think, line up the issues against your core beliefs.

ACL Marriage Petition: Thankyou and status from Jim Wallace

Dear Steve,

It's been a busy week at the office finalising the petition that you signed. I wanted to personally thank you for making a stand. However, it's important to realise that the agenda for same-sex marriage isn't over and this is just round one.

I have recorded a short video message for you, which you can view by clicking the image below.

An important message from Jim Wallace - click here to view

God bless,
ACL

Jim Wallace, AM
Managing Director,
Australian Christian Lobby

52,000 Australians sign Senate marriage petition

Posted by Katherine Spackman, PR Officer on August 24th, 2011

ACL's MD Jim Wallace hands the petition to Senator Ron Boswell and Senator Helen Polley

August 24, 2011

52,000 Australians sign Senate marriage petition

In an extraordinary display of concern for the institution of marriage, more than 52,000 people, mainly from the Christian constituency across Australia, have signed a Senate petition to keep the current definition of marriage between a man and a woman, the Australian Christian Lobby’s Managing Director Jim Wallace said.
The campaign, man+wife4life on www.makeastand.org.au, will be the largest petition to be tabled in Senate in the life of the 43rd parliament.
As well as the petition, more than 20,000 people came to the website to send emails to politicians about the importance of marriage remaining between a man and a woman.
“This depth of support shows that Australians believe marriage between a man and a woman is important for the social makeup of society,” Mr Wallace said.
“Imagine this level of response multiplied across other faiths, which also support marriage between a man and a woman.
“Many people are concerned that children should be given the opportunity to be raised by a mother and father, where possible, and revising the marriage definition would remove that ideal.
“This petition shows that there is strong support amongst Christians for marriage to remain the same and debunks any poll suggesting otherwise,” he said.
ACL has previously dismissed a Galaxy Poll, commissioned by the Australian Marriage Equality, claiming 53 per cent of Christians supported gay marriage.
“Asking people what religion they belong in the poll is different than going to the Christian constituency directly, which we have done in the petition,” he said.

ACL: VERY URGENT HELP Marriage

Dear friends,

This is really serious now. Christians can't just stand by and let our nation slide into this abomination. Let's show our support for the kind of marriage YHWH sets out in the Holy Bible.

PLEASE read and vote.

Steve B

From: Joan Anderson <joanruthand@hotmail.com>
Date: 20 August 2011 20:58:43 AEST
To: John and Denise Hargreaves <john@hida.com.au>
Subject: FW: VERY URGENT HELP Marriage

 Just received Sat night. Forwarded urgently by Dr Joan

Hi All,

 

I may have already sent you something regarding this but if you have not yet done so PLEASE urgently respond.

 

This is an urgent, urgent, urgent matter concerning Marriage as we know and understand it and which requires attention by close of business this Monday.

 

Please have a read through Jim Wallace's email and please act as he asks.

 
We received this email today from Jim Wallace, Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby. We felt that it was important enough to send one to you to take action and pray about.

Dear Pastors,

I know that I pester you a lot on this issue of marriage, but it has reached another critical stage where it could be lost.
Until yesterday we were winning this politically, despite the media campaign, because we had won the battle of emails, letters and visits to local MPs and I thank you for your part in that. But GetUp, publicly stating it realised this, started a campaign that is generating a last minute flurry of letters, with one MP on our side registering 40 per day and saying it will be lost unless we act urgently. These are his words:
Just letting you know we are getting swamped with emails from the electorate in SUPPORT of gay marriage through a GetUp! e-mail campaign.
Since 5pm yesterday, I have had more than 40 emails in support of gay marriage and they keep coming through.
At this rate, by the time I give my speech next week, I will have almost more people tagged in support of gay marriage than not on my constituent management system which makes the case that harder to prosecute because it appears your electorate is for it.
I know that your troops are sending theirs in but can I say they are coming in at a snail's rate compared to the opposing camp.
Sorry to be a nuisance on this but I am firm on this and I can only wonder about some of my colleagues who are waverers and what they are thinking getting this massive reaction.
It is crucial that we respond to his call to action, as the Greens have manufactured all parliamentarians reporting back to the Parliament next week on the consultations they have been having and in addition to this effort, a poll has been manufactured that says that most Christians support gay marriage, which we all know is not true of those who actually are practising believers.
I don’t like to sound doomsdayish, but I know we have the numbers in the churches this Sunday to turn this around, but without a huge commitment this weekend I can see us loosing it which would be a disaster when politically we had been winning it.
If we care about marriage we must act to turn this around. Could I ask that your churches be exhorted to respond to this and to go to the www.makeastand.org.au website and access the campaign 'Man+Wife4Life' and send an email to their politician. This is made very easy to do there and they should also sign the petition at the same time as it will be tabled next Wednesday and it is once again important that it can at least match anything thrown up by the other side.
Clearly the time imperative here, (emails must be sent by end work next Monday) means we must have our churches send this out on their email lists or we will not act in time.
Clearly we also need to activate our prayer groups and chains on this.
Thank you and God bless,
JJA WALLACE AM
Managing Director

The Non-Mythical Adam and Eve!

For info on The Non-Mythical Adam and Eve, see http://creation.com/historical-adam-biologos

Time to wake up BLACK AND WHITE...

‘Man+Wife4Life’ petition - last push urgently needed!!!

From ACL, 

please read and respond as a priority matter.God willing, we will preserve marriage as being between a man and wife in Australia.


Steve B
=====

Dear Supporter,

Thank you very much for signing the ‘Man+Wife4Life’ petition. Your support has seen us collect over 40,000 signatures for the campaign to retain in Australian law the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

In this, the final week before the petition is tabled in the Senate, and MPs report on consultations with their constituents on same-sex marriage, I encourage you to urgently make a couple of extra contributions to the campaign.

Please send an email to your local member of parliament in support of marriage.

An MP who supports marriage has alerted us to the fact that GetUp has activated its very large email list to flood MP’s offices with emails from their electorate. This panic action has occurred because they realised “offices have received more pressure from those seeking to block change”. However we cannot allow GetUp to pervert what has been an eight-month consultation by a last minute gasp.

We need your help now if politicians are not to form a false impression that there is a groundswell of mainstream public support for turning the institution of marriage on its head – before MPs report back to the parliament with their constituents’ views on marriage next Wednesday.

You might consider using the following points in your email:

• The definition of marriage does not unfairly discriminate against same-sex couples because it is simply a reflection of the natural and historical reality that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.
• Marriage has more to do with the welfare of children than the recognition of adult relationships.
• Every child has the right to the equal love of their mum and their dad.
• I do not believe that same-sex attracted Australians should be subject to unfair discrimination, but marriage is a unique institution that deserves the protection of government.
• A large number of Australians hold marriage as sacred and their view ought to be respected.

Please click this link for an easy online form to send your email – don’t forget to also cc the message to the senators in your state/territory.
I strongly encourage you to forward this email to your contacts to encourage others to get involved by sending an email to MPs and signing the petition. If you’re on Facebook – you can easily invite your friends to sign the marriage petition by sending them this link:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=223067914408339

Thanks again for signing the petition and for your participation in the campaign.

God bless,

Jim Wallace, AM
Managing Director,
Australian Christian Lobby

Polls we can vote in to make a difference...

Yahoo are running a poll on whether or not you believe in legal euthanasia: http://au.news.yahoo.com/polls/popup/-/poll_id/0d3adea6-4394-372a-848b-d9fc04db071f

The Sydney Morning Herald are running a poll on "same-sex marriage": http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/backlash-over-mps-stand-against-gay-marriage-20110802-1i960.html#poll

What a difference a few good men could make

It's sad, the state of the church. There is little sense of community, as evidenced by the rapid drift from one church to another of many church goers. They are looking for something, but not finding it. Could it be that entertainment doesn't satisfy?

This week has been an interesting one, as I have seen something good outside the church, and something lacking within. I state it this way because it has to do with community.

Let me give the 'good news' first. Last night I was at a facility in inner suburban Brisbane, attending an induction night for volunteers working with refugees. After our trip to Ethiopia, I have yet more of a heart for the dispossessed (not to mention being homeless ourselves for some months!). I saw some men assembling out on the back veranda as we had our meeting, and assumed it was the new mens' group they have just started. I inquired after our meeting and was told "It's a community meeting. The men meet together to discuss issues within an ethnic community". There was obviously a sense of cohesiveness and care in the group as they met to discuss issues that were affecting the community as a whole, and individual families or couples in the community. I said to the person I was talking to that it was something we in the west has lost, perhaps with industrialisation. It reminded me of the elders in the ancient Hebrew culture, and at the time of Christ. Something good.

The scenario that was lacking this week demonstrated exactly the opposite in terms of community, and unfortunately occurred within the church. A rebellious teenager had left home, and eventually gone to a friends home to live, taken in by the friend's parents. These well-meaning people took the boy in to try and help. Sadly, they did not confer with his parents, and were given the boy's perspective on recent history without the parents being consulted at all for their perspective. The problems I see with this are several:

1. There was no honouring of the parents by the other parents. Both were of good standing in the local Christian community, and the parents deserved the right to give an account as they saw fit; for the benefit of themselves and their son.
2. The lack of consultation has caused difficulty for the boy's parents, as the rebellious boy is being taken round by this family now, happy to be rid of his parents and having an easier ride (even if it is probably temporary)
3. The approach taken will not help the boy in gaining maturity, but rather will probably reinforce that rebellion pays; and that he can have his way by bucking the system.
4. The cohesiveness of the local Christian community has been broken, as the actions taken have divided both children/teenagers and parents.

Would it not have been far better for parents to meet and discuss the matter, calling for assistance of local elders if necessary to ask for required wisdom to find a solution YHWH would find pleasing? There is no fear of our Lord left in the church. It seems people think they can split marriages and families like "those outside" (as the apostle Paul would say). It reflects poorly within the church and worse without.

We need to remember that marriage is a type of Christ and His church. We need to remember that family is close to His heart. We need to be cognisant that He is always watching, and hoping we will follow the commands and exhortations found in his word.

Australia is in some ways further from godly culture than some other nations. There is much to be learned from the bible, and a good knowledge of Hebrew culture can help. It is sad that the culture of a Moslem nation to my mind shows itself superior to that of our Christian culture in Australia. Our people perish (are confused and in disarray) for lack of knowledge. I hope and pray that next time something like this happens, we will see the Christians acting more as a body of elders with understanding and consultation and as Christ would have them.