Monthly Archives: January 2020

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

2020 – What Lies Ahead Part 01

As we enter into a new year, and a new decade, there is great concern, anxiety, yet excitement, at what lies ahead. What should we watch for? What should we expect in the year 2020?
The United States & Iran: Please look for our separate blog on this topic, which is also part of the Issachar Teaching eLetter.
Israel: Before we focus on the US Presidential Election of 3 November, let us keep our eyes on Israel. The Jewish State is scheduled to go to the polls on 2 March 2020, for the third time in a year. This unprecedented situation occurred because no major political party has been able to form a coalition from the April 2019 and September 2019 elections.
The other thing to watch what happens to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving Prime Minister, now in a care-taker role. He was indicted in November 2019 by Israel’s attorney general for bribery, corruption, and breach of trust in three separate cases. Netanyahu denies all charges. Will he go on trial in 2020? Or will he win the election, form government, and remain immune from prosecution while in office?
China: This important nation, too big to ignore, wields a lot of weight and faces a lot of challenges. While it eagerly desires to be a rival superpower to the United States, there are many potholes on the road. First is the trade war with the US; where will that lead? Then there are the reports of serious repression of the Muslim Uighur minority in far west Xinjiang Province –  is it true and how will the world respond if it is (if at all)? Then there is Hong Kong, where pro-democracy protests have been held for months. Much of the population attends or at least supports the goals of these demonstrations. Remember that Hong Kong was once a British Crown Colony that was committed to Chinese sovereignty in July 1997 under the banner ‘one country, two systems.’ This arrangement is to last until 2047. Hong Kong’s capitalism and relative political freedom is in stark contrast to the mainland. Though legally part of China, it really stands apart with a high level of autonomy, to the point it has its own immigration and laws. Will Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, survive and will China step in?
Another point: While China looks East, focusing on claiming the South China Sea and bringing Taiwan under Beijing’s rule, it seems to be ignoring a greater challenge in the West. Some of the former Central Asian republics of the Soviet Union are becoming failed nation-states. If this trend continues, citizens of those countries will stream into Xinjiang and China, thus creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Cyber-Warfare: While this sounds like the topic of a block-buster movie, this war has been going on for years. Key players include China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are chief suspects. This is serious business because a well-aimed cyber attack can knock out the electrical grid, close down an airport, freeze the banking system, and even worse.
Australia: See separate article on the bush fire crisis.
The United States: Of course, the world will be watching closely what will happen to President Donald Trump and the November 2020 elections. The first item is the articles of impeachment; what will happen to him in the Senate? While conviction and removal from office seems unlikely, the question is what will the Senate do? What kind of trial? How long will the trial last?
Also to watch is the Iowa Caucus on 3 February, the New Hampshire Primary February 11, and ‘Super Tuesday’ on 3 March, where 14 states hold primaries: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. Remember, both Republican and Democratic parties will field candidates and those who win the primary will receive delegates for their respective parties national convention.
The 2020 Democratic National Convention will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 13-16. The Republican National Convention will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, from 24-27 August, 2020.
In addition to the Presidential election on 3rd November, will be the congressional elections. All 435 representatives in the House will be up for re-election (2 year terms) and 33 senators out of 100 (6 year terms). Will the Democrats keep their majority in the House? Will Nancy Pelosi retain her position as House Speaker (the third highest office in the land after the President and Vice-President)? Or will the House of Representatives revert back to the Republicans?
We can say for sure that 2020 will not be a dull year.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Assassination in Baghdad: What’s Next for the US & Iran?

It came as a shock. The United States announced that on 3 January 2020, it had killed Qassem Soleimani (1957-2020), Head of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, as well as the Al Quds (the Islamic name for Jerusalem) Forces (designated as a terrorist group), which is a combination of CIA & special forces. Soleimani has been described as ‘second in command in Iran after Supreme Leader Ali Khameini,’ ‘Iran’s viceroy in Iraq,’ and the single-most powerful operative in the Middle East. His reach extended to Europe, Africa, and South America. He is directly credited with the deaths of 600 American servicemen in Iraq, and of late, a US contractor.
The killing of Soleimani was ordered by US President Donald Trump. It was a response to the shelling and killing of a US contractor a few days earlier, as well as an incident at the US Embassy in Baghdad. While Trump’s US (and non-US) critics said he acted impulsively and precipitately, the assassination comes after several recent Iranian provocations: attacking of oil tankers in the Straits of Hormuz, the downing of a $100 million American drone, the attack on the Saudi oil fields, and the very recent attempted siege of the US Embassy in Baghdad. The Iranian backed protestors carrying signage with Soleimani’s name on it; some say this was the signing of his own death warrant. Yet until this point, Trump had not retaliated at all.
When Mr. Trump made his announcement regarding Soleimani, he said America acted in order to prevent war, not start one. He also made it clear that America was not looking for ‘regime-change’ in Iran.
The Iranians thought that Trump would not do anything against them because it would be unpopular in America – weary of ‘endless Middle East wars’ (true). They reasoned it would also hurt his chances of re-election in November 2020. Once Trump acted, Iran has vowed ‘fire from heaven’ retaliation against the United States and even said the city of Haifa in Israel would be in the cross-hairs. It has all but abandoned the Obama era 2015 nuclear deal, known as JCPOA.
What are we to make of all this?
Iran is the heir of a very proud history, culture, and even an imperial power as mentioned in the Bible. The 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew a monarchy dating back 2,500 years to the time of Cyrus the Great. This revolutionary, theocratic regime, founded by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1902-1989), envisaged ‘Plato’s Republic’ in an Islamic mould. Prior to the revolution, Iran was an ally of the United States (and de facto ally of Israel). After 1979, Iran became a sworn enemy of both countries, calling for ‘death to America and Israel’ and/or ‘death to the great satan and little satan.’
Despite the rhetoric, the mullahs of Tehran are more pragmatic and less ideological than would seem possible. While they have meddled with countries all over the Middle East, they often do it with proxies they have raised up. Also, if there is a military engagement, Iran uses the proxies to do the fighting. The only war Iran has fought since 1979 was the Iran-Iraq of 1980-1988, started by Saddam Hussein. Iranian pragmatism may help cool down the actions that their fiery rhetoric stokes up.
While space is limited, remember the following points:
1.           Iran’s Goal: Iran seeks leadership and hegemony of the Middle East, and greater leadership in the Muslim world. Even though it represents the 15% of Muslims that are Shia, it has had a profound affect on the Sunni Muslim world, too. Since ancient Persia was an empire, they also dream of imperial glory. Their goal is to build a ‘Shia Crescent’ from Iran in the Persian Gulf, to the Mediterranean Sea. They have had some success, since they dominate Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon (also, Yemen and the Gaza Strip). This agenda has driven Sunni Arab countries into an unlikely de facto alliance with Israel.
2.           Iranian retaliation: Iran has promised retaliation against the US. How can the Islamic Republic counter the strongest military in modern history? It is called asymmetrical warfare, a ‘David and Goliath’ scenario. Iran is not just thinking of a direct military confrontation: they are experts at cyber terrorism, they can activate their regional proxies, sleeper cells in the US, and possibly utilise EMF (electro-magnetic field), which, in theory, could knock out the electric grid of a major western city, wrecking mayhem and even death in its wake. Do they really want to provoke America to make a major military move, which President Trump has promised? Neither Iran nor the United States want an all-out-war. With local unrest and a shaky economy, military adventurism could lead to the toppling of the regime. Despite all the above these options, Iran’s pragmatism may win the day.
3.           Israel’s example: Soleimani, who headed the Iranian presence in Syria and helped bolster Bashar al Assad, tried to confront Assad’s next-door neighbour, Israel. Under Benjamin Netanyahu, they got a furious response. Iran underestimated Israel’s intelligence operations, air force, special forces, and cyber skills. The Jewish state repeatedly pounded Iranian installations in Syria, with the death of Iranian personnel. Until now there has been no known retaliation by Iran against Israel for all this.
4.           The Iranian Church: Despite the government’s intense hostility and active opposition to all things Christian, the amazing fact is that the church in Iran is the fasting growing national church per capita in the world. This is remarkable, even miraculous, since everything the growing Iranian church does is illegal: evangelism, church-planting, distribution of Bibles, fellowship meetings. They have no central headquarters, no official status, no bank accounts, and a lot of female leadership. This is a praying, evangelising church and they are the ‘wild card’ that no one factors in; yet can make a massive difference to the destiny of the entire nation and the region.
As in all things, let’s make this a matter of prayer for the people of Iran, Iraq, Israel, and the entire Middle East. This is one region where you can expect the unexpected, and it is not all doom and gloom.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

IMPEACHMENT & DONALD TRUMP: Was Christianity Today Right? Part 01

The editorial was blistering: President Trump must be removed from office. It came within a day of the US House Democrats voted to impeach the President. The piece could have been written by one of Trump’s many secular progressive opponents in politics or the media. Instead, it came from Christianity Today (from henceforth called CT), an evangelical publication. Are the evangelicals who voted for Trump in the 2016 Presidential election, now turning against him? Or is CT a minority voice?
In December 2019 Democrats in the US House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump on two counts: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. This move was totally predictable. Yet, what seemed to be unpredictable was that Christianity Today’s (CT) outgoing editor Mark Galli wrote an editorial calling for the President to remove from office due to his ‘grossly immoral character.’ https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-should-be-removed-from-office.html
Mr. Galli said the facts were ‘unambiguous’ that Mr. Trump violated his oath of office by pressuring the Ukrainian President by withholding promised military aid unless he investigated former US Vice-President and 2020 presidential hopeful Joe Biden and son Hunter for personal gain – a quid pro quo. Galli sought to prove Trump’s ‘immorality’ by the type of people he hired and his past personal conduct. Even his tweets are ‘immoral.’ Trump’s achievements as President cannot compensate for his flawed character. Claiming this was not a partisan call, but in ‘loyalty to the Creator and Ten Commandments,’ Galli admonished – perhaps lectured – Trump supporting Christians to remember Whom they are serving. Basically, in order to honour God, such Christians need to reject and remove from ‘this immoral President’ from office.
The mainstream media, who normally don’t care about what Christian publications have to say, was ‘over the moon’ because of Galli’s anti-Trump editorial. After all, American evangelical Christians are a significant voting-bloc in the presidential elections. In Trump’s case, he garnered over 80% of the evangelical vote in 2016, more than any other candidate in history. They have continued to support him during his presidency. If Trump loses evangelical support, it would greatly jeopardise his chances of being reelected. Since Christianity Today (CT)is a well-known as an evangelical magazine, if they have turned against Trump, then this is a sign that Americans evangelicals as a whole are doing the same.
Are these assertions from CT correct? Are American evangelicals turning against the President? Does CT represent the voice of the American evangelical community? Was it right in condemning the President?
Our sincere and steadfast goal is to help people to ‘understand the times’ so they would know ‘what to do’ (I Chronicles 12:32). Here are some takeaways.
Who are the evangelicals?: Evangelicalism is a significant and important branch of Christianity. In summary, in the most elementary sense of the word, to be evangelical is to place Scripture as the highest and sole authority of faith and practice. It also means to put evangelism as a top priority. Evangelicals are worldwide but the American version is large and a coveted voting bloc in US elections.
The most famous classic evangelical of our time was the late Evangelist Billy Graham (1918-2018), who immortalised the word: ‘The Bible Says’ (interpretation: ‘God says’); The Bible is God speaking to us. Conservatism in morals and politics was a practical hallmark of evangelicalism, especially in America.
But in an age of postmodern, culture-war ’redefinition,’ evangelicalism today does not necessarily mean what it used to mean. There has been a notable shift to the left, theologically and politically, over the last few years. Millard Erickson’s The Evangelical Left: Encountering Postconservative Evangelical Theology (1997) outlines this trend. A self-proclaimed evangelical author wrote a 300 page best-selling book which only alluded to Scripture only 5 times; in the same book the author gently advocated socially progressive causes.
Evangelicals Against Trump?: Is the CT editorial signalling an evangelical exodus from Donald Trump? Short answer: No. His approval rating is around among evangelicals is 67%, or higher. Nearly 200 high-profile evangelical leaders rose up and condemned the CT editorial in a letter.After all, Galli’s op ed did not just criticise Trump himself but also those Christians who support him. They wrote:
The CT editorial “offensively questioned the spiritual integrity and Christian witness of tens-of-millions of believers who take seriously their civic and moral obligations.[1]’
In response to the charge that pro-Trump supporters are ‘far-right evangelicals,’ the leaders said:
“We are, in fact, not ‘far-right’ evangelicals as characterized by the author,” the letter said. “Rather, we are Bible-believing Christians and patriotic Americans who are simply grateful that our president has sought our advice as his administration has advanced policies that protect the unborn, promote religious freedom, reform our criminal justice system, contribute to strong working families through paid family leave, protect the freedom of conscience, prioritize parental rights, and ensure that our foreign policy aligns with our values while making our world safer, including through our support of the State of Israel.”[2]
TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Issues the Church Can’t Ignore – Part 02 ABORTION

Our society faces issues and asks many questions. People are looking for answers. It is time to address some of the big issues from an informed and pastoral view. We will begin to focus in the next few issues on abortion.
I have a niece in the United States. She is a Millennial, born in 1991. My niece is an intelligent thinker, thoroughly postmodern and secular progressive, has a soft, sweet, and compassionate side, but can be militant and combative, perhaps ‘triggered,’ if she doesn’t like what she hears. She loved US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders back in 2016 – she ‘felt the Bern.’ Though she had been exposed to the gospel, she chose to embrace an alternative lifestyle. She knows and respects that I am an ordained Christian minister with a conservative, high-view of Scripture.
Imagine my surprise when she asked me via Facebook the following question:
What is your view on abortion, and why do you feel that way? Your professional and personal qualms with the issue would be appreciated. Please feel free to get as deep as you would like. The more information the better. Thank you uncle.
So, as a blogger, I decided to share my answer to my niece with the world.
What would you say to your niece if she asked you about abortion?
Here is what I said to mine:
Terminology: First, let’s define terms. Abortion means the deliberate termination of a pregnancy, with the loss of life for the foetus. Miscarriages are actually called ‘spontaneous abortions,’ meaning they come from nature at any time, usually in the early weeks or months of a pregnancy. ‘Therapeutic abortion’ is caused by direct human intervention, normally by a medical professional. Unless there is human intervention in or interruption of the pregnancy, the mother will carry the child to term. It is the subject of  ‘therapeutic abortion’ to which I will address.
Why abortion was outlawed in the past: If the foetus in the womb is truly a human-person from conception, then abortion is clearly murder. This was the consensus for centuries and the law treated it as a criminal offence. The Judaeo-Christian heritage of the western world, and the Ten Commandments as the foundation of the legal system, made it so. The sixth of the ten commandments clearly states ‘Thou shalt not murder’ (Exodus 20:13).
Even so, abortions have happened throughout history, despite the physical risks and the legal and Scriptural prohibitions.
Why did things change? We have had 200 years of The Enlightenment, where human reason became king and sought to marginalise Bible and theology. Then we had the advent of liberal theology, higher criticism that has a lower view of Scripture, and the rise of evolution. Add to this a cultural civil war that has lasted over half a century. In this war we’ve had a sexual revolution, the feminist movement, cultural Marxism, and postmodernism with its ‘truth is relative’ and ‘tolerance is a must.’
Roe vs. Wade 1973: The watershed happened on January 22, 1973. On this date, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision called ‘Roe vs. Wade,’ which gave American woman a right to have an abortion. Overnight, thirty-one states had their abortion laws overturned in an instant. Though ‘Roe’ was considered a ‘compromise’ and not a ‘blank cheque’ for abortion on demand, the fact is that over 60 million abortions have been performed in the US since 1973. That is more than the amount of people who perished in World War II.
TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Prophet from Galilee: Why Study the Book of Jonah? Part 01

INTRODUCTION

It is an ideal ‘Sunday School’ story. Yet, this book is not just for children; it is a prophetic word for all of God’s people. While some will scoff at the notion that this prophet spent 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the great fish, Jesus Christ treated it as historic fact. More than that, He made Jonah’s 3 days underworld excursion a sign of His own burial, which is an important component of the gospel: Christ died, was buried, and rose again, according to the Scriptures (I Corinthians 15:3-5).




HEBREW NAME
The book is known as ‘Yonah,’ which means ‘dove.’
AUTHOR
Jonah is the author of the book that bears his name. He is the ‘son of Amittai’ and II Kings 14:25, is the only verse in the Bible that tells us anything about him. The text says: He (King Jeroboam II of the Northern Kingdom of Israel) restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
What we learn is that Jonah was a prophet from the Northern Kingdom; he came from a village known as Gath Hepher, known today as Mashhad, which lies in-between Cana of Galilee and Nazareth, which is 3 miles to the south. The Pharisees declared in John 7:52 that no prophet came from Galilee; they were totally wrong because Jonah did. For that matter, so did Jesus, Who is more than a prophet, of course.
Jonah accurately prophesied that King Jeroboam II who have enlarged borders, past Damascus itself to the land of Hamath. His greatest prophecy is the one that did not come to pass: in 40 more days, the City of Ninveh will be destroyed. This lack of fulfilment does not mean Jonah failed as a prophet; on the contrary, he succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.
Because Jonah focuses on the salvation of Gentiles, in this case, the Assyrians of Nineveh, some critics try to give the book a late date. However, it was always God’s intention to save the Gentiles (Genesis 9:27; 12:3; Leviticus 19:33-34, I Samuel 2:10, Isaiah 2:2; Joel 2:28). He was the only Hebrew OT prophet sent to the Gentiles, and like the apostle Paul centuries later, Jonah was stunningly successful. His results were better than anything the prophets in and to Israel experienced.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST
Jesus Christ compares Himself to Jonah the prophet. He used Jonah’s experience in the belly of the great fish as a sign to His own looming experience in the tomb. Matthew 12:39-41 says: But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Yes, the men of Nineveh are going to condemn those in Israel who refused to believe, since Nineveh repented at Jonah’s preaching and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
THEME OF BOOK
God is totally just and totally merciful. His will is the salvation of all people, Jew and Gentile. Jonah learned in the belly of the great fish that, ‘Salvation is of the Lord.’
TO BE CONTINUED

Baptist, News

Responding to the bushfires

Australia is in the midst of a devastating and unprecedented bushfire season. This comes at a time when much of our country is in drought and a hot summer.  Over 10 million hectares has been burnt, lives have been lost, communities, livestock and native animals destroyed. If you’ve been thinking about what you can do to help those affected by the Bushfires – here are some ways:

Pray

NSW & ACT Baptists Prayer Coordinator, Carolyn Altman has written a prayer for the Australian Bushfire Crisis –  Prayer for Australian Bushfire Crisis_January 2020.

With thanks to Dr Byron Smith, Common Grace is offering this prayer for use or adaptation in your devotions and church worship – Prayer for Bushfires

Give

Donating money is one of the best ways to help those affected by the fires. BUV is working closely with our local churches to help communities affected by the bushfires. To give to the BUV Bushfire Appeal click here.

If you want to donate physical items, please only give items that charities have specifically asked for (otherwise they need to sort through the items, diverting their attention away from fire relief). NewHope Baptist Church is partnering with Foodbank Victoria and they will be a collection point over the next few weeks. Click here for more information.

Red Cross has also urged people to consider donating blood. If you’re eligible, you can do so here.

Support

Be Fire Ready
A well prepared home is more likely to survive a bushfire or ember attack. Baptcare has provided some tips on preparations to be Fire Ready. Read more.

Personal Hardship Assistance Program
The Victorian Department of Health & Human Services, supported by the Housing Call Centre, have established a Personal Hardship Assistance Program (PHAP) hotline 1800 961 054 for those affected by the Eastern Victoria bushfires.

Victoria Emergency Financial Assistance
If you or someone you know has been directly impacted by the East Gippsland Fires or the North East Fires, please visit the Vic Emergency financial assistance page.

Red Cross Emergency Grant
An emergency grant of $5,000 is available if you’ve lost your home in a bushfire. Apply here.

Mental Health and Well-being
It is normal for a distressing or frightening event to affect you physically, mentally and emotionally. Look out for others and if you need help, seek help.
You might find talking to friends and family useful, or talk with your pastor. It may be a good idea to see a counsellor or psychologist to help you process your experience. Here are a list of community services organisations within the BUV that can help you:

https://www.crosswaylifecare.org.au/

https://www.newhopecare.net.au/counselling

https://www.karinyacounselling.com.au/

http://www.gileadcounselling.org.au/

https://mgacounselling.com.au/

https://frankstonbaptistchurch.com.au/

https://www.onecaregeelong.org.au/

http://millparkcommunitycare.org.au/

http://www.wellingtoncarecentre.com.au/

You can also contact:

  • your doctor or local community health centre
  • Lifeline 13 11 14
  • Parentline, Phone: 13 22 89
  • Kids Helpline, Phone: 1800 55 1800
  • NURSE-ON-CALL Phone: 1300 60 60 24 for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
  • Australian Psychological Society Referral Service, Phone: 1800 333 497

Call 000 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.

Mainly Music has developed some useful resources to help children experiencing trauma. If your church would like these resources, please email Allison at auadmin@mainlymusic.org.

Baptist

Responding to the bushfires

Australia is in the midst of a devastating and unprecedented bushfire season. This comes at a time when much of our country is in drought and a hot summer.  Over 10 million hectares has been burnt, lives have been lost, communities, livestock and native animals destroyed. If you’ve been thinking about what you can do to help those affected by the Bushfires – here are some ways:

Pray

NSW & ACT Baptists Prayer Coordinator, Carolyn Altman has written a prayer for the Australian Bushfire Crisis –  Prayer for Australian Bushfire Crisis_January 2020.

With thanks to Dr Byron Smith, Common Grace is offering this prayer for use or adaptation in your devotions and church worship – Prayer for Bushfires

Give

Donating money is one of the best ways to help those affected by the fires. BUV is working closely with our local churches to help communities affected by the bushfires. To give to the BUV Bushfire Appeal click here.

If you want to donate physical items, please only give items that charities have specifically asked for (otherwise they need to sort through the items, diverting their attention away from fire relief). NewHope Baptist Church is partnering with Foodbank Victoria and they will be a collection point over the next few weeks. Click here for more information.

Red Cross has also urged people to consider donating blood. If you’re eligible, you can do so here.

Support

Be Fire Ready
A well prepared home is more likely to survive a bushfire or ember attack. Baptcare has provided some tips on preparations to be Fire Ready. Read more.

Personal Hardship Assistance Program
The Victorian Department of Health & Human Services, supported by the Housing Call Centre, have established a Personal Hardship Assistance Program (PHAP) hotline 1800 961 054 for those affected by the Eastern Victoria bushfires.

Victoria Emergency Financial Assistance
If you or someone you know has been directly impacted by the East Gippsland Fires or the North East Fires, please visit the Vic Emergency financial assistance page.

Red Cross Emergency Grant
An emergency grant of $5,000 is available if you’ve lost your home in a bushfire. Apply here.

Mental Health and Well-being
It is normal for a distressing or frightening event to affect you physically, mentally and emotionally. Look out for others and if you need help, seek help.
You might find talking to friends and family useful, or talk with your pastor. It may be a good idea to see a counsellor or psychologist to help you process your experience. Here are a list of community services organisations within the BUV that can help you:

https://www.crosswaylifecare.org.au/

https://www.newhopecare.net.au/counselling

https://www.karinyacounselling.com.au/

http://www.gileadcounselling.org.au/

https://mgacounselling.com.au/

https://frankstonbaptistchurch.com.au/

https://www.onecaregeelong.org.au/

http://millparkcommunitycare.org.au/

http://www.wellingtoncarecentre.com.au/

https://www.mycommunitydirectory.com.au/Outlet/177921/Warracknabeal_Baptist_Church

You can also contact:

  • your doctor or local community health centre
  • Lifeline 13 11 14
  • Parentline, Phone: 13 22 89
  • Kids Helpline, Phone: 1800 55 1800
  • NURSE-ON-CALL Phone: 1300 60 60 24 for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
  • Australian Psychological Society Referral Service, Phone: 1800 333 497

Call 000 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.

Mainly Music has developed some useful resources to help children experiencing trauma. If your church would like these resources, please email Allison at auadmin@mainlymusic.org.

Source: BUV News

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

AUSTRALIA’S BUSH FIRE CRISIS: A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE

Have you heard of Ash Wednesday? And Black Saturday? These are the names of two infamous and deadly bush fires, in 1983 and 2009 respectively, that have left an indelible impression on the ‘land down under.’ Bush fires are not unusual in this bone-dry continent. However, the yet unnamed ‘Bush Fire Season 2019-2020’ is shaping up to be the worst on record.
To give some perspective:
Ash Wednesday Fires of February 1983: Affected the Australian states of South Australia and Victoria, burning 418,000 hectares or 1 million acres, destroyed 2,400 houses and killed 75 people.
Black Saturday February-March 2009: Affected State of Victoria, burned 450,000 hectares or 1.1 million acres, destroyed 2029 houses and 2000 other structures, and killed 173 people (including respected Melbourne newsreader Brian Naylor).
2019-2020 Bush Fires – Burning since September 2019. New South Wales and eastern Victoria are worse affected, with 12 million acres or 50,000 square kilometres burnt. As of New Year 2020, 1400 homes destroyed and upward to 20 killed, with dozens missing and unaccounted. And, worse of all, there is no end in sight. Until the winds change and the rains come, the bush fire emergency continues. The nation’s capital, Canberra, is being smoked out by fires in neighbouring New South Wales. The world is noticing with concern the bush fire crisis and Australia is receiving some international help already.
The causes: Weather over the last decade is pointed to as the worse culprit. The Indian Ocean Dipole has delivered hot, dry spells. Record high temperatures of 42 C (107.6 F) have been recently recorded. Add to that a decade-old drought, especially in New South Wales, makes parts of the state bone-dry. Major regional communities are in danger of running out of water. Menacingly, there are reports that some fires were the result of arson.
HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS RESPOND?
POLITICS: It is conventional wisdom that in the face of a national emergency, politics should be kept out completely out of the picture. This is not the time for grandstanding, virtue-signalling, or other forms of woke behaviour. It is a time for the country to pull together.
Unfortunately, it appears that is not the case here. Some loud voices are crying ‘climate change’ and ‘global warming,’ as if legislation and paying money now will immediately solve the problem. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been abused, sworn-at, and heckled, when he visited fire-ravished places like Cobargo NSW. Yes, he appeared to have an ill-timed holiday in Hawaii while Australia burned, but there is more to the unrest and it is sinister. Inner city cultural elites, who are no where near the fire scene, are stirring up the pot, simultaneously criticising the Prime Minister for not doing enough while also criticising former Prime Minister Tony Abbot for actually fighting the fires personally. It’s a ‘can’t win’ scenario, reminiscent of criticism Jesus received in Matthew 11:17-19.
What should we do? Let’s support the fire-fighting effort, pull together as a nation, and have a national conversation later. Now is not the time for debates. Apparently, Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has been very honourable in this regard, supporting the fire-fighters on the front, while refusing to throw mud at the Prime Minister during this national emergency. And so it should be.
GIVING: In our current political culture where the dominant progressivist view looks to the government to take care of everything, in some cases ascribing powers to it that belong to God Himself (omnipresent, omni-rich). We recognise and honour government, as we are commanded to do in places like Romans 13. However, there are many things government cannot do, like make rain. Also, the national bank balance is not inexhaustible, especially where there are deficits.
A very constructive way to respond is through giving to the fire fighting effort. There are several worthwhile places you can donate. Here are a couple:
Community Enterprise Foundation
https://www.communityenterprisefoundation.com.au/make-a-donation/bushfire-disaster-appeal/?int=appleNews
Australian Christian Churches Bushfire Appeal
https://donate.acci.org.au/form-5025979/mdisaster-bushfires
PRAYER
For people of faith, this should be the first and last port-o-call. History and modern events prove the effectiveness of heartfelt prayer. James 5:16 affirms that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. II Chronicles 7:14, the classic verse on revival, promises that if God’s people will humble themselves and prayer, seek God’s face, and turn from their wicked ways, God will hear, forgive, and ‘heal the land.’
How shall we pray? Here are some points:
1.       Fire-fighters: Pray for the health, stamina, protection, and effectiveness of the fire-fighters as they valiantly put out the blaze. This is like a war and they are the foot-soldiers. They deserve our continuous prayers.
2.       Danger: Pray for the people and communities that face danger, that God’s peace and fearlessness will be there portion. May they face the days ahead with courage, and may they experience divine protection and supernatural deliverance from the fire, smoke, and destruction.
3.       Loss: Pray for those who have lost loved ones and homes; that they will receive sufficient support and resource to rebuild their lives (Matthew 5:4).
4.       Leaders: Pray for our local, state, and federal leaders, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and all in authority, that they will have the strength, wisdom, and courage, to lead their respective constituents through this national crisis.
5.       Weather: Since Jesus has authority over the winds, rain, and elements of nature (Matthew 8:27; Luke 8:25), pray for the winds to change and rainfall to come.
Without question, Australia will get through this crisis. Not just because Aussies are a ‘tough lot,’ but more importantly, because it is the ‘Southland of the Holy Spirit.’ Let’s pray that the natural rain is followed by revival rain.

Baptist, News

Prayer for Bushfires by Common Grace

With thanks to Dr Byron Smith and Common Grace for offering this prayer for use or adaptation in your devotions and church worship.

Beauty

Creator of life, this beautiful land cries out.

For the disfigured splendour of charred forests, blackened soil, ashen skies, we grieve.

For the hundreds of millions of creatures that perished in smoke and flame, for the millions more who emerge after the inferno to starvation or predation, for the twisted, frayed and torn strands of ecosystems that may never recover, we mourn.

For sacred sites incinerated we lament.

For smoke-filled lungs, dread-filled hours, anxiety-filled evacuations,

for ruined livelihoods, broken communities, smouldering homes,

for bereaved families, inflicted trauma, gutted dreams, we weep.

     Lord have mercy.

    Lord have mercy.

Generosity

Jesus our brother, all generosity echoes your own.

For the dangerous labour of firefighters, for the kindness of strangers, for neighbourly bonds reforged in calamity, we offer thanks.

For sandwiches made, shelter provided, funds donated, we are grateful.

For accurate reporting, insightful forecasts, skilful logistics, we acknowledge our debt.

    Christ have mercy.

   Christ have mercy.

Justice

Spirit of truth, your justice flows like water onto parched soil.

For too long, our notions of prosperity have been dominated by theft, destruction and fire: stolen land, poisoned rivers, dirty fuels. May we rediscover true wealth in mutual trust and care, in treasured stories and places, in clean water and air.

May justice fall like rain, pouring like grace on the tongues of the poor, settling like ash in the mouths of those who profit from lies.

Let ancient wisdom be respected, careful science heeded, the worship of money rejected.

May we truthfully embrace our full history, honestly acknowledge our present crises, humbly nurture a shared future.

    Lord have mercy.

   Lord have mercy.

Written by Dr Byron Smith
Posted on Common Grace on 7th January 2020

Baptist

Prayer for Bushfires by Common Grace

With thanks to Dr Byron Smith and Common Grace for offering this prayer for use or adaptation in your devotions and church worship.

Beauty

Creator of life, this beautiful land cries out.

For the disfigured splendour of charred forests, blackened soil, ashen skies, we grieve.

For the hundreds of millions of creatures that perished in smoke and flame, for the millions more who emerge after the inferno to starvation or predation, for the twisted, frayed and torn strands of ecosystems that may never recover, we mourn.

For sacred sites incinerated we lament.

For smoke-filled lungs, dread-filled hours, anxiety-filled evacuations,

for ruined livelihoods, broken communities, smouldering homes,

for bereaved families, inflicted trauma, gutted dreams, we weep.

     Lord have mercy.

    Lord have mercy.

Generosity

Jesus our brother, all generosity echoes your own.

For the dangerous labour of firefighters, for the kindness of strangers, for neighbourly bonds reforged in calamity, we offer thanks.

For sandwiches made, shelter provided, funds donated, we are grateful.

For accurate reporting, insightful forecasts, skilful logistics, we acknowledge our debt.

    Christ have mercy.

   Christ have mercy.

Justice

Spirit of truth, your justice flows like water onto parched soil.

For too long, our notions of prosperity have been dominated by theft, destruction and fire: stolen land, poisoned rivers, dirty fuels. May we rediscover true wealth in mutual trust and care, in treasured stories and places, in clean water and air.

May justice fall like rain, pouring like grace on the tongues of the poor, settling like ash in the mouths of those who profit from lies.

Let ancient wisdom be respected, careful science heeded, the worship of money rejected.

May we truthfully embrace our full history, honestly acknowledge our present crises, humbly nurture a shared future.

    Lord have mercy.

   Lord have mercy.

Written by Dr Byron Smith
Posted on Common Grace on 7th January 2020

Source: BUV News