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Mar
26
2009
0

Is Nothing Sacred?

 

News last week revealed that this year TABs in Victoria and NSW will be allowed to operate on Good Friday. Even though there are no local race meetings on that day, punters will be able to bet on international race meetings, football games and other international sports.

 

At the same time, more than 80 stores including such leading names as Myer, David Jones and Kmart, have applied to the NSW Department of Commerce, for permission to trade on Easter Sunday this year.

 

Both these moves are symptoms of systemic greed - the very same greed that has brought the world to its knees in the “global economic crisis”, which is likely to soon become the “global recession” and possibly even the “global depression.”

 

In any shape, greed is a form of idolatry. Greed puts material things at the top of life’s priorities - the place that should be occupied by God alone. When that greed tries to take over the most sacred days of the year, it is sacrilege bordering on blasphemy.

 

By far the greatest percentage of the Australian community is at least nominally Christian. The Christian faith shaped this country, as it has most of the western world. Not only are these moves blatant greed, they are also an attempt (yet again!) to force the atheistic agenda of the few upon the majority. It indicates a total lack of respect, both for the Lord Jesus Christ and for all those who follow Him.

 

This country has been subject to several serious warnings from the Lord - the economic crisis, the Victorian fires, the Queensland floods, even a couple of minor earthquakes. These things are not God’s judgments: they have been caused, either directly or indirectly, by man’s sin and selfishness. They have, however, been allowed by God as warnings: when you play with fire you will get burned; when you put your trust in false gods - including the gods of greed and materialism - they will not save you from disaster, and may even bring disaster upon you.

 

Yet in spite of the warnings, this nation continues to embrace the false gods. Instead of turning away from greed (just one of the false gods this nation pursues) it allows that greed to take over the most sacred days of the year.

 

Australia, wake up! Listen to the warnings! Repent and turn back to the true God! If this nation does not turn back to Him, the time will come when we do face His judgment. If that happens, everything we have experienced so far will seem like a picnic in the park.

This blog is © copyright Lynn Fowler.

There is one God, and one mediator between God and people, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:51 Timothy 2:5
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

)in Whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9Colossians 2:9
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,)and Whom God the Father has exalted to the highest place, giving Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11Philippians 2:9-11
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.)


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Written by revlynn in: Australian News | Tags: , , , , ,
Mar
11
2009
0

Blessed, not Lucky

Following the recent bushfires, there has been some discussion as to whether they were the result of God’s wrath and judgment against this nation, and particularly against the state of Victoria following the passing of the appalling abortion laws which allow the murder of even fully-formed infants in the womb.

I do not believe this was God’s judgment as such - although that may well come, if this nation does not turn around. However, I do believe that when people - whether individuals or nations - choose to follow false gods, then there comes a time when God hands them over and says, “OK, you want these false gods, then see what they can do for you. See how they can protect you in a crisis.”

I wrote the following the day before the fires swept through our town of Boolarra (a week before Black Saturday). I think it is even more relevant now.

AUSTRALIA - BLESSED, NOT LUCKY

 

Just a few days ago we celebrated Australia Day. As I am part of our local Community Development Group, I joined the other members in the town park to cook a “typically Aussie” breakfast of sausages, bacon and eggs for about 250 people - around half the population of the town. We issued awards to people who, over the past year, have been outstanding in their service to the local community, and we listened to our local Councilor give a speech about what a great country we live in, and particularly what a great part of that great country is our local community. I’m sure no-one listening disagreed with him.

 

Traditionally, Australia has been called “The Lucky Country.” With abundant natural resources, and freedom and opportunity for all, this is most certainly one of the best countries in the world. Some of us would say the best.

 

Those benefits, however, did not come as a result of “luck”, but rather because of the blessings of God extended over us. Most Christians have heard Australia called “The Southland of the Holy Spirit”. That title comes from a prophetic declaration made by explorer Pedro Fernandez de Quiros in 1606, on what is now known as the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu, and included Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the South West Pacific. In 1603, de Quiros had been commissioned to search for the Southern Land, and in Espiritu Santo he thought he had found it. He issued the following proclamation:

 

“Let the heavens, the earth, the waters with all their creatures and all those here present witness that I, Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros…in the name of Jesus Christ… hoist this emblem of the Holy Cross on which His (Jesus Christ’s ) person was crucified and whereon He gave His life for the ransom and remedy of all the human race… on this Day of Pentecost, 14 May 1606… I, take possession of all this part of the South as far as the pole in the name of Jesus… Which from now on shall be called the Southern land of the Holy Ghost… and this always and forever… “

 

In God’s economy, this nation has been set aside as His, and because of that He has poured out His blessing upon us. That being so, it is tragic and shameful that so many in this nation do not even acknowledge the existence and reality of God, let alone thank Him for His bountiful blessings toward us. If we do not turn around and begin to acknowledge Him as our source, rather than luck; and if we do not as a nation begin to acknowledge His Lordship over us, we may well find that the time will soon come when the blessings will be withdrawn.

 

Ten and a half years ago I did a prayer walk from Cairns to Koumala in northern Queensland - around 850 kms over two months. It was meant to be much longer, but sickness intervened and cut it short. As I was walking, I believe the Lord spoke to me, saying that if this nation did not repent and turn to Him the time would come when there would be many walking the roads of the nation - not to pray for the nation, as I was, but looking for whatever work was available, as happened in the Great Depression. I normally don’t like to talk in negatives, but as I watch the current world economic problems begin to impact our nation, I can’t help but wonder whether we are facing the fulfillment of that word.

 

There is still hope. This nation can still repent. It can still turn away from all the false gods that have invaded the national spirit, and acknowledge the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as its source and sovereign. It can still, as a nation, take up the declaration that we are “The South Land of the Holy Spirit”. It we do, then we will truly become the Blessed Country.

 

 

This blog is © copyright Lynn Fowler.

There is one God, and one mediator between God and people, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:51 Timothy 2:5
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

)in Whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9Colossians 2:9
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,)and Whom God the Father has exalted to the highest place, giving Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11Philippians 2:9-11
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.)


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Written by revlynn in: Australian News | Tags: , , ,
Mar
05
2009
0

Shame, Brumby, Shame!

At long last it appears that the bushfire threat to Victoria is over. Most, if not all, of the state has received rain in the last 24 hours, a welcome relief for our exhausted fire fighters. As of the news last night, all four remaining fires are now contained. People who had evacuated their homes have been told it is now safe to return, and interstate and international fire fighters are being sent home. It seems that all that is left is the blacking out operation, which could last for several weeks. We praise God for the end of what has been an horrific chapter in our state’s history.

 

The figures are horrendous. The death toll stands at 210, with around 36 people still unaccounted for. Over 2000 homes have been lost, and over 7000 people left homeless. Beginning with the Boolarra fires the week before Black Saturday, the crisis has stretched over 5 weeks, and stretched both the resources of the fire services and the emotional capacity of the people to the limit.

 

On a positive note, people have done what Aussies always do in such situations: they have dug deep into their pockets and poured an overwhelming amount of money into the Bushfire Relief Appeal. There have been stories even of those who were themselves suffering losses as a result of the floods in northern Queensland donating their own relief money to help the bushfire victims. This kind of generosity is one of the best aspects of the Aussie character, and one which I am sure, when this nation finally turns to God, that He will pick up and refine and use greatly for His glory and the benefit of mankind.

 

That said, the Victorian government obviously does not share that generous spirit. Also on the television news last night was the story of the temporary accommodation which the state government is making available to fire victims who have lost their homes. Brumby and his cohorts have decided that this should not be provided freely: rather, they are going to CHARGE RENT for this accommodation.

 

A government representative interviewed for the story brushed it aside, saying that it would only be a nominal amount to cover maintenance. Yes, $100 per week may be a small amount compared to what one would pay for a normal 3 bedroom house. But what is being provided is not a normal 3 bedroom house, it is temporary housing. Furthermore, whilst $100 might be nothing to someone receiving the wages of a state government minister, to an average person who has lost everything, and probably still has to meet mortgage payments even though not having a house to live in, it is a lot.

 

Mr Brumby, this is an absolute disgrace! What more can I say? Shame, shame, shame, shame, shame!

 

This blog is © copyright Lynn Fowler.

There is one God, and one mediator between God and people, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:51 Timothy 2:5
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

)in Whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9Colossians 2:9
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,)and Whom God the Father has exalted to the highest place, giving Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11Philippians 2:9-11
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.)


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Written by revlynn in: Australian News | Tags: , , ,

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