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Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

On the Edge: Why is Australia Facing More Political Instability?

First, there was the UK ‘In or Out’ Referendum on European Union membership on June 23, 2016. Despite the support of business, media, major political parties, and the UK Prime Minister himself, the ‘Leave Campaign,’ popularly known as ‘BREXIT,’ prevailed. Immediately, the pound sterling dropped to a 30 year low, the stock market fell, and the global economy was shaken.
On the other side of the world, Australia went to the polls on July 2nd in a ‘double-dissolution’ election. This means that all seats in the Australian parliament, the House of Representatives and the Senate, were up for grabs. By all accounts, the fact that the election was on a knife’s edge for days afterwards, and the prospect of continued political instability, does not bode well for the ‘land down under.’
The ruling Liberal-National Coalition government, led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, asked to be returned to power for a second term. Mr. Turnbull, who was not originally elected as PM, successfully unseated the previous Liberal PM, Tony Abbott, in a party-room ballot in September 2015. It is agreed that Mr. Abbott, who rode to power with a convincing win in 2013, had consistently poor poll numbers and his party colleagues, in a panic, replaced him with Turnbull before the 2016 election.
Perhaps that was not such a good idea after all. The Coalition government under Turnbull did not campaign on its strengths: Border protection, stopping the boats with illegal migrants, national security, economic management, counter-terrorism, and warning the electorate of the opposition’s plan to remove negative gearing off investment properties. Instead, Turnbull, who is a ‘social progressive’ (abortion, republic, same-sex marriage), led a party full of traditional values / social conservatives. These people felt alienated and angry by a prime minister they did not even elect, whose values they do not share, and gave their votes to minor parties. This failure to capitalise on their strengths, win the conservative voter base, and unite the party, cost Coalition dearly. 
Now that Mr. Turnbull has lost most of the seats his party won in 2013 under Mr. Abbott, any government that is formed will be weak and face obstructionism in the Senate. Serious and necessary reform will be postponed yet again. Gridlock is a real possibility. 
What’s worse, Australia faces the prospect of losing its Triple A credit rating. This means the cost of borrowing and doing business will go up; which is not a good thing during times of economic and political uncertainty. If the Labor Opposition under Bill Shorten were to come to power, the prospect of more borrowing, spending, and deficit, places the nation at serious risk of losing this coveted rating.
How did Australia, with its well earned reputation for long-term political stability, get into such a situation? To the world, Australia is known for its kangaroos, koalas, beach lifestyle, as well as freedom and prosperity. No wonder it was one the favoured havens for migrants from around the world. Yet this reputation, like the credit-rating, is under threat. After 11 and 1/2 years under Liberal Prime Minister John Howard (1996-2007), Australia entered into politically uncharted waters. In five years, there has been 5 prime ministers in 5 years, yet only twice was the prime minister change by election. The other 3 times the PM was replaced their own party. Canberra has become the ‘coup capital’ of the western world. This is not a recipe for future stability and success.
There is a simple reason why Australia, like other western nations, is facing continued political instability. In Part 02, we will find out.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Could God Be Behind the Rise of Donald Trump?

When I broached the question: Could God behind the rise of Donald Trump,? I got an impassioned response from one of my readers – this could not be possible! The reader proceeded to list Mr. Trump’s outrageous words, actions, and that it was unthinkable that he could be God’s choice.
Our friend has a point. Mr. Trump, age 70, is a flamboyant businessman who has made money on casinos, married three times, and even bragged about his extra-marital affairs. How could God be behind the rise of a man with such a lifestyle?
These are fair questions. Yet, there is no question that Donald Trump’s rise thus far has stunned the world. In his quest for the US Republican Party nomination and the White House, Mr. Trump has knocked 17 other Republican contenders out of the race. More Republican voters have voted for Trump than any other candidate in any presidential primaries in history, including for the revered Ronald Reagan. He has received some impressive endorsements, including from 91 year old Phyllis Schlafly, a respected pro-life, pro-family, and pro-God conservative icon.
What’s even more interesting – or puzzling – is a prophecy given by American firefighter Mark Taylor in April 2011, while watching Donald Trump give a speech. In essence, Taylor claims the Holy Spirit told him ‘Donald Trump would become President. He would bring honour and respect back to America, the dollar will strengthen. Those who try to stop him and fail. He is God’s choice.’ (for more details log onto http://www.trunews.com/gods-man-firefighter-shares-2011-vision-of-president-trump/).
This is reminiscent of a prophecy given in 1970 given directly to then California Governor Ronald Reagan … that if he fulfilled certain conditions, he would live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC (the address of the White House). Ten years later, Mr. Reagan was ‘In.’
Leaving Trump aside for a moment, Bible-believing Christians have to acknowledge God is Sovereign and, as the Sovereign of the universe, He can do anything He wants. In Isaiah 55:9 God says: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Psalm 75:6-7 is clear: God promotes and demotes whoever He wants. Yet, concurrently, He will never violate His holy character in the process of exercising His sovereignty – He is righteous in all His ways and holy in all his works (Psalm 145:17).
We concede that God choses the the most unlikely vessels to perform His will. This should not catch us off guard. We are told that God chooses the foolish, weak, base, and little things of the world to confound and destroy the wise, strong, exalted and great (I Corinthians 1:27-29). Here are a few examples:
1.    Romans 9:17 says that God raised up Pharaoh that He could show His power through him;
2.    Three times God called Nebuchadnezzar, a despotic heathen tyrant His ‘servant’ (Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6; 43:10);
3.    Cyrus the Great, king of Medo-Persia, who had no track record of Biblical righteousness, was called by God His ‘shepherd (Isaiah 44:28) and ‘anointed’ (Isaiah 45:1);
4.    Habakkuk wrestled with God because the LORD chose the bitter, hasty, violent, heathen Chaldeans to chasten a less wicked, backslidden Judah (Habakkuk 1:1-6);
5.    The first person on earth whom Jesus of Nazareth gave the revelation that He was the Messiah was not to the priests, the Jewish elites, or even a normal Israelite. His confession was given to a Samaritan (oh no!) woman who was living in a de facto relationship (John 4:26 & verse 18);
6.    A hard-headed, mean-spirited bully who did his best to destroy the young Christian church was called God’s ‘chosen vessel’ to proclaim the Name of Jesus to Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. His name? Saul of Tarsus, later called the Apostle Paul (Acts 9:15);
7.    Let’s not forget that God even used Balaam’s donkey to speak to the prophet (Numbers 22:28; II Peter 2:16).
If God waited for any of us to be perfectly upright before using us for kingdom purposes, none of us would be in the ministry today. Full stop. Let’s have the humility to admit we are all in God’s workshop as a work in progress.
Romans 13 gives some amazing insight about our attitude to those who are in power. We are, within reason, to be subject to the governing authorities, since existing authorities are appointed by God. To resist authority is to resist God’s ordinance and this will bring judgment (vs. 1-2). This is remarkable considering Paul wrote these words when Nero was the mad Caesar in Rome, cantankerous, unreasonable, despotic, perhaps a bit demonic. Yet the knowledge that all authority comes from God and that ultimately God will have His way helped to influence Paul’s thinking.
We are to obey authorities except when it contravenes our faith, knowing we may have to pay a price for standing firm in our integrity. Even Jesus Himself said we are to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar (implying taxes, respect, compliance) and to also give to God the things that belong to God (Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25). We are told in I Timothy 2:2 to pray for kings and all in authority that we may live quiet and peaceable lives. Wise advice!
Back to our original question: Could God be behind the rise of Donald Trump?
Will the prophecy of Mark Taylor come to pass?
Will there be a populist revolt at the ballot box?
Will Donald Trump be to America what Brexit and the EU Referendum was to Britain?

We will find out on November 8th!
Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Blessing & Curses: Why Study the Book of Deuteronomy?

                                                                           
Introduction
It was a sobering scene.
Location: The plain of Moab, near the Jordan River, at the back door of the ‘Promised Land,’ near the city of Jericho.
Main character: Moses, the aged and faithful servant of God, was about to give his valedictory speech.
The audience: A large group of Israelites: the younger generation, who were born in the wilderness (‘the wilderness generation’).
The challenge: Moses would need all the God-given communications skills he could muster to reach this younger group of people who knew no other leader but him. After all, if Ronald Reagan, John Paul II and Bernie Sanders, all in their 70s, could connect with younger people, why not God’s anointed prophet? He apparently succeeded.
The setting: It had been 40 years since he led the children of Israel out of Egypt by the power of God. The journey should have taken more or less 40 days. Yet, due to tempting God 10 times (Numbers 14:22, 24-34), the days turned to years. During these forty years the generation that left Egypt with Moses (‘the exodus generation’) had perished in the wilderness; the audience he now faced were their children.
The message; Forty years earlier, Moses received the Law (Ten Commandments) on Mount Sinai. He shared God’s standard with the ‘exodus generation. They disobeyed and perished. Now that they were gone, on the eve of entering the promised land, it was time to share the Law again with the younger ‘wilderness’ generation.
This sharing of the Moses’ law a second time is called Deuteronomy. In addition, the events of Exodus through Numbers are retold. The 10 Commandments are recited and Moses gives his final address to the nation. Moses reminds Israel of God’s love and faithfulness and strongly exhorts them to keep God’s law. If they do, manifold blessings will come and overtake them; if they refuse, then an avalanche of curses will tumble upon them.
As the book ends, Moses gets to view the promised land from Mount Nebo, and then dies and is buried by the LORD. Deuteronomy predicts the rebellion, dispersion, and ingathering of Israel and speaks of a future prophet like Moses, which, of course, is Christ.
During the days of Judean king Josiah, the ‘book of the law’ was discovered in the temple (II Kings 22:8-10; II Chronicles 34:15-19). This book was Deuteronomy, which spawned a nation-wide reformation. Centuries later, Jesus Christ successfully quoted from this book when overcoming the devil in the wilderness  (Matthew 4:1-11; Deuteronomy 8:3; 6:16; 6:13; 10:20). In all this, the goal is to receive the blessings, and avoid the curses, by obeying the Word of the Lord.
Details of Deuteronomy
Name: ‘Haddebharim“The words’ or 1:1 ‘These are the words” also known Mishneh Hattorah ‘or repeating’ of the law. We get our English name Deuteronomy from the Septuagint, where it was known as To Deuteronomian Touto.
Author: Moses is the universally recognised author, including by Christ, the apostles, and the New Testament. Some later scholars have questioned Mosaic authorship, especially Chapter 34; could Moses have written about his own death and burial? Yet throughout the Torah / Pentateuch, it has been estimated that the phrases ‘The Lord says’ or ‘God says’ is used over 500 times. This first part of Scripture has an unmistakable ring of divine authority.
Portrait of Christ: He is the prophet like unto Moses (18:5). He is also known as the Rock of Salvation (32:15). As mentioned earlier, Jesus resisted Satan in the wilderness by quoting from Deuteronomy three times.
 Theme: Blessing and Cursing (Deuternomy 28).
 Key verses:  Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (KJV)
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Time Period: Two months. The first month is Moses and his three sermons. The second month was the 30 days of mourning for Moses.
Outline of Deuteronomy
Sermon One (History): Moses Looks Back  1:1-4:43
12 Spies & their evil report (1)
Edom, Moab, Ammon, and the wars against Amorites (2)
War Against Og; Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe Manasseh settles in Transjordan (3)
Commands of Obedience & Warning against Disobedience (4)
Sermon Two (Legal): Moses Gives the Law Again (4:44-26:19)
Ten Commandments (5)
Israel’s National Creed (6:4)
Call to Obedience & Faith (7-11)
Place of worship & Destruction of Idols (12-13)
Kosher and un-kosher animals & tithing (14)
Debts cancelled in jubilee year (15)
High holidays: Passover, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Tabernacles (16)
Call to Justice (17)
Priests and Levites (18)
Sundry laws on cities of refuge, warfare, murder, firstborn, sexual morality, divorce, levirate marriage, Amalekites, first-fruits (19-26)
Sermon Three (Prophesy): Moses Speaks of the Future
Law on Tablets of Stone – Gerizim is Mount of Blessing and Ebal Mount of Cursing (27)
Blessing and curses: Obedience brings 14 verses of blessing and disobedience 54 verses of curses (28)
Covenant renewed in Moab (29)
The choice: life and death, blessing and cursing (30)
Joshua succeeds Moses; Israel will rebel in the future (31)
The Song of Moses (32)
Moses Blesses Israel One More Time: The Tribes Mentioned (33)
Moses views the Promised Land and Dies (34)

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

BREXIT Prevails

THE QUESTION:

Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?’

Remain a member of the European Union  [   ] 

Leave the European Union                           [   ]

On the morning of June 24, 2016, the United Kingdom and the world woke up to the news that on the previous day the electorate, 52% to 48% with a 72% turnout, voted to leave the 28-member European Union (EU). Britain’s 43 years of membership is coming to an end. A four-month long, bitterly fought campaign between those that wanted to remain in the EU (called Bremain) and those who wanted to leave (Brexit – British exit) has culminated in a shock result – Brexit prevailed, though it was the underdog (BREMAIN had the support of key British political leaders, business leaders, billionaires, globalists, international allies, and EU partners). This is only the third time in Britain’s long history that there has been a referendum and it can clearly be labelled ‘historic.’
Democracy at work: First, we should all derive satisfaction that the UK EU Referendum was clearly democracy in action. Prime Minister David Cameron, who announced his resignation soon after the results, promised the people an ‘In or Out’ Referendum. On a matter of such fundamental importance, the nation was given a chance to have their say. In addition, membership in the European Union is voluntary and member states can choose to leave without armed conflict.
The Economy: Why did 52% of the electorate vote to leave the EU? One issue was economics. There is much dissatisfaction over the annual contributions Britain has to make to the EU ($16 billion in 2014). Recently, Brussels sent London an unexpected invoice because the UK economy had done better than expected. In addition, there are all kinds of rules and regulations that hamstring the economy and smack of protectionism.
Immigration: A second concern was immigration. As part of the responsibility of EU membership is that citizens of member states have the right to live and work in other member states (similar to citizens of Australian and American states can live anywhere in the country). Today, 13% of the residents of Britain are foreigners, a couple of million clearly being citizens of other EU countries. Perhaps what helped to tip the balance was British concern over the collapse of Europe’s borders during the great migrant rush of 2015, with 1.1 million unauthorised aliens coming into the continent.
Sovereignty: The biggest issue of all had to be national sovereignty versus being part of a European superstate. When the British voted in a 1975 European referendum, they were promised that no law from Brussels (headquarters of the EU) could be imposed against the will of Britain’s elected representatives. In other words, Britain was told that it had a veto. Yet, as more countries joined the union and new treaties negotiated, that veto became null and void. Since the 2007 Treaty of Lisbon, the UK lost its veto 40 times in over 40 different areas. Over the years, the UK was outvoted again and again in the Council of the European Union, while it also lost 101 cases and won only 30 in the European Court of Justice.
Even more shocking is that most of the UK laws are made by Brussels, not Westminster. According to Jeremy Paxman in a BBC documentary and Toby Young of The Spectator, 59% of UK law came from the EU. And who made these laws? Not by the European parliament in Strasbourg, where 73 out of 751 Parliamentarians (MEPs) are British. They are made by the 28 unelected European commissioners. The parliament either accepts, rejects, or amends. Like the ‘law of the Medes and Persians,’ once the law is enacted, it cannot be repealed. Anyone who takes the notion of democracy seriously should find this very disturbing.
United States of Europe: The European Union was started after two disastrous world wars with the intent to unite the continent economically and politically for the sake of peace and prosperity. While it had fine ideals, its real goal has always been a European superstate, ‘ever-closer union,’ or, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel calls it, ‘more Europe.’ Already the EU has a common court, central bank, currency, president, criminal justice system, military, open borders between states (Schengen), passport, flag, and parliament – all these are the trappings of a nation-state.
A United States of Europe means that member states are reduced to mere provinces in Super Europe. What would happen to the British monarch, as well as the other European monarchies? In addition, the EU, though espousing democracy, has become very socialistic, regulatory, bureaucratic, post-Christian and postmodern organisation. Serious problems like broken borders, entitlement funding crises, non-robust military, regulation overload, and more, have caused a rethink about EU membership even beyond Britain’s borders.
As shared in an earlier article, the re-paganisation of Europe under the EU, and the reintroduction of mythological Europa riding the beast, has been a cause of concern for some British Christians. They have engaged in intense prayer and fasting for this referendum. They chose to ‘vote in the heavenlies’ by prayer before voting on earth at the ballot box.
National Identity: Ultimately, the British electorate was being asked about what kind of country they want for the future. Is Britain merely a little island off the coast of Europe which, having been stripped of its empire, needs to ‘get over it’ and accept is new and reduced status in an enlarged Europe?
Or is it still a great leader, with the world’s sixth largest economy, fourth largest military, and permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council. It contributions to civilisation are enormous:
The English language;
Parliamentary democracy;
Constitutional monarchy;
The Commonwealth of Nations;
Abolition of the slave trade;
Spawn the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions;
Twice helped defeat Euro-fascism;
Hosts great financial hub in London;
Common law;
Rule of law;
Christianity and mission;
Sport (cricket, bridge, snooker).
All these things – and more – have spread worldwide.
For those who voted to Leave the EU, far from being xenophobic and narrow-minded nationalists, BREXIT is about helping the UK, who has already given so much to the world, to stand on its feet and take its rightful role in Europe and the world. Now that the choice has been made, let’s support the UK in its brave new future.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Relationships, Teaching

FROM ‘DE FACTO’ TO ‘DE JURE:

FROM ‘DE FACTO’ TO ‘DE JURE:’
Finding Legitimacy in an Immoral World
Kameel Majdali
‘Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.’ –Hebrews 13:4

DE FACTO: Existence without legal or ecclesiastical recognition or sanction.
DE JURE: Existence by right according to law.
The clerk handed an overseas tourist her visa application. Immediately her eye spotted the section called ‘Marital Status,’ from which she could choose one of five options. These included:
[   ]  Single;
[   ]  Married;
[   ]  Divorced;
[   ]  Widowed; and…
[   ] De Facto.
Unclear on the last option, she asked the clerk what it meant. ‘De facto is when a couple lives together without being married,’ he replied.
‘Oh,’ she blurted out, ‘where I come from, we call that ”living in sin.‘”
Cohabitation or ‘The De facto Factor’
One of the disturbing, yet prevalent, trends in the western world is the practice of de facto relationships, also known as ‘cohabitation’ (Note: these terms will be used interchangeably). Whether you call it ‘de facto,’ ‘living in sin,’ ‘live-in girlfriend,’ ‘cohabitation,’ ‘common law,’ or even ‘trial marriage,’ a generation ago it was the exception; it was considered unacceptable, even wrong.
Today this phenomena is on the rise and considered a legal status. One recent statistic in Australia suggested that a whopping 80% of the couples that wed in a single year have lived together in a de facto relationship prior to the wedding (2014, cited by the Australian Bureau of Statistics).[1] A (liberal) Christian denomination in 2001 struck premarital sex and de facto relationships off their sin list, as part of being ‘consistent with society’s ways.’
Acceptance of de facto-living came as a gradual process with the rise of secular humanism and decline of Judeo-Christian moral standards. The culture wars, sexual revolution, contraceptive pill, abortion on demand, postmodernism with its denial of absolutes, have all contributed to this situation. No doubt Hollywood has played a major role in the proliferation of cohabitation. Glamorous high profile actors, usually after one or more failed marriages, move-in with another famous movie star, father children and live a celebrated lifestyle, egged on by gossip columnists who offer bite-size instalments for news-hungry, celebrity-obsessed fans.
Three Types of De facto Relationships
For Most, A Temporary Arrangement: Motivations for cohabitation seem to follow several streams. The first involves those who have never married and have no intention of doing so. They want readily available sex, shared financial resources, and companionship in the home. These living arrangements tend to be temporary; only 18% of these will be together after 5 years. This attitude can be described as a ‘de facto spirit,’ meaning they want the privileges and pleasures of marriage without the commitment and responsibility.
Never married but want to: The second type are also those who never married and are interested in eventual marriage but have a ‘try before you buy’ mindset.
De Facto before Remarriage: Third are those who have undergone divorce, suffer from the ‘once bitten, twice shy’ syndrome, and hence choose a de facto relationship as a necessary precursor to remarriage (if there is to be a marriage). Some older couples may choose to live together outside of marriage so as not to endanger any pension entitlements. Others, afraid of giving up their freedom and identity, choose to cohabitate with their boyfriend or girlfriend. If things don’t work out, they reason, all one needs to do is ‘move out’ without all the complications divorce brings. It’s that simple.
           
Is it? (Short answer: No)
Are There Any Benefits?[2]
Just because something is commonplace and permitted by society does not make it healthy and right. After all, cigarette smoking is legal but it can cost your thousands of dollars a year and have a detrimental effect on your health. Gambling also is legal and look at the trail of trouble and sorrow it has left.
           
Some claim that a de facto relationship helps prepare a couple for marriage and prevents divorce. Does it? Research suggests otherwise: couples that live in a de facto relationship before marriage are more likely to divorce than couples that wait until marriage. One statistic said that of couples who were married twenty years or more, 56% of those who lived as a de facto couple before marriage ended up in divorce, while 29% of those who never cohabited before marriage ended up in divorce. According to the Jubilee Report on cohabitation: ‘The idea that first cohabitations that lead to marriage do not result in an increased rate of divorce is not reflected by this data set: prior cohabitation with a spouse is associated with 60 per cent higher risk of divorce (emphasis mine).
Another study concluded that 75% of married couples were still together when their child turned 16; only 7% of de facto couples can make the same claim. That’s a ten-fold increased for the married couples. In Britain, the direct annual cost of family breakdown is GBP 41.7 billion. The Daily Mail Online, ‘Married Parents Ten Times More Likely to Stay Together,’ Sarah Harris (February 2010).[3]
TO BE CONTINUED:
In Part 02, we will look at the other negatives as well as how to go from ‘de facto to de jure,’ and how to gain legitimacy with God and people.


 FACTS ABOUT COHABITATION[2]

•       Over half of all first marriages are proceeded by cohabitation (University of Wisconsin document)
•       Cohabitation doesn’t reduce the likelihood of divorce–in fact it leads to a higher divorce risk. One study showed 46% higher risk (1992 Journal of Marriage and Family).
•       No positive contribution of cohabitation to marriage has ever been found, not even sexual compatibility, as usually suggest (1993 Journal of Marriage and Family)
•       Cohabitants tend not be as committed as married couples, or prepared to work on their differences (1995 Journal of Family issues)
•       Particularly problematic is the area of serial cohabitation. It generates a greater willingness to dissolve later relationships. (1993 Journal of Family Issues)
•       About 60% of cohabitation ends in marriage (1989 National Study of Cohabitation
•       In general, cohabiting relationships tend to be less satisfactory than marriage relationship-s, with cohabiting couples reporting lower levels of happiness, sexual exclusivity and sexual satisfaction, as well as poorer relationships with parents (Bumpass, Sweet & Cherlin’s 1991 study)
•       After five years, only 10% of cohabiting couples are together. They do not tend to permanency (Bumpass & Sweet’s 1989 study)
•       Married couples have substantial benefits over the unmarried in terms of labour force productivity, physical and mental health, general happiness and longevity (1994 American Journal of Sociology)
•       Annual rates of depression among cohabiting couples is more than three times the married rate. (1990 Psychiatric Disorders in America)
•       Physical and sexual abuse of a spouse is much higher. One study showed evidence of being twice as high (1991 Journal of marriage and family)
•       Abuse is 20 times higher for children with cohabiting, but biological parents, but 33 times greater if the parent was cohabiting with a non-parenting male partner (1993 Family Education trust: London).
•       The 1996 poverty rate was 6% with married parents, but 31 % with cohabiting parents (1996 Journal of Marriage and the Family).
–taken from Leadership NOW! January 2000, page 12.
Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching, Terrorism

TERROR IN ORLANDO: Making Sense Out of the Senseless

It is a popular destination and place of entertainment. Indeed, Disney World is nearby, attracting holiday-makers worldwide. Yet on the weekend of June 11-12, 2016, Orlando, Florida USA went from being a place of fun to a place of terror.
On June 11th, Christina Grimmie, a 22 year old American songwriter, singer, and contestant on NBC’s ‘The Voice,’ was gunned down in Orlando by 27 year old Kevin James Loibl, while signing autographs for her fans. She was a committed Christian who ‘loved Jesus’ and ‘the Bible.’ Her brother Marcus, who tackled the gunman before he shot himself, may have saved more lives.
Then at 2:00 A.M. on Sunday morning, 12 June, Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, a 29 year old twice-married, New York born US citizen of Afghani descent, went into The Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. A former security guard who legally purchased weapons in the previous fortnight, Mateen was well-armed and well-prepared for what he was about to do. Despite having a shooting exchange with police, Mateen single-handedly was able to take hostages and go on a killing spree for three hours. By the time the police SWAT team stormed the nightclub and killed Mateen, 50 people were dead and another 50 plus wounded. Many of the victims were Latinos.
Mateen’s crime was the worse mass shooting in US history and the biggest terrorist attack since September 11th. Before that, the 2007 shooting rampage at Virginia Tech by Seung-Hui Cho was the worse shooting crime. Thirty-two people were killed. Adam Lanza killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012, of which 20 were 6 and 7 year old. Also George Hennard in 1991 rammed his car through a cafe wall in Killeen Texas and killed 23 people. As you can see, these last three crimes had nothing to do with religious extremism.
The Orlando shootings have received worldwide attention, condemnation, and sympathy. US President Barack Obama denounced it as a ‘hate crime,’ extended special condolences to the LGBTQ community, and ordered US flags at Federal Buildings to be lowered to half mast until Thursday evening. The Vatican, Indian Prime Minister Moti, Chinese President Xi Jinxing, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, where quick to offer condemnations and sympathy. Muslim leaders also condemned Mateen’s actions, including Afghani President Muhammad Ashraf Ghani and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. America’ s prime Islamic lobby group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), issued a stinging denunciation of their own. Executive Director Nihad Awad ‘You do not speak for us. You do not represent us. You are an aberration.’ 
What are we to make of the sensational but senseless killings in Orlando?
1.    Note the nature of our world: We are in a fallen world. Sin and death have been waging a reign of terror throughout human history. A fallen world is devoid of true justice, true peace, and true harmony. Bad things can happen to good people and good things can happen to evil people. The Bible takes all this into account, promises the coming of a ‘new heaven and new earth,’ but it also offers God’s higher way for those who are willing to pay the price.
2.    Note the nature of our times: As I have been saying for some time, we need to recognise that we are in the last days (I John 2:18; Hebrews 9:26ff; I Peter 1:5). According to II Timothy 3:1 says ‘This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.’ These points are not meant to scare people, but to offer an early warning service so they can prepare ahead. Proverbs 22:3 and 27:12 says the prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.
3.    Polarised nation: For several years now, America’s domestic scene has become more and more polarised. Just look at the outcome of the US Presidential primaries! The half-century old cultural civil war between the ‘progressives’ and ‘social conservatives,’ far from running out of puff, has become more strident and shrill.
4.    The role of religion: The Orlando massacre was considered a ‘hate crime’ and ‘terrorist attack.’ But did it have anything to do with religion? Mateen’s father Seddique said his son was not particularly religious and that religion had nothing to do with attack in Orlando. Others in the government and media are quick to say the same thing. However, remember that Mateen called 9-1-1 just before or even during the attack, pledging allegiance to the jihadist group ‘Islamic State’ (IS). In addition, Amaq News, part of the Islamic State’s media outlet, took claim for the attack and normally their claims are correct. IS has a particular distain for homosexuals, and has even been recorded pushing them off high buildings to their death. Mateen reportedly expressed disgust upon seeing two men kissing in Miami. IS is condemned by many Muslim groups and their so-caliphate rejected, yet they continually claim to be the true Muslims who are living in obedience to the sacred texts. The 2015 shootings in San Bernardino, California that killed 14 people were religiously motivated; Mrs. Tashfeen Malik pledged allegiance to the Islamic State just before. Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people and injured 30 at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009 cried Allah u Akbar before he went on a killing spree. If radical Islam is to blame for the Orlando shooting – and the evidence points in that direction – our leaders need to say so. We do no favours to the victims, their families, our Muslim neighbours or the world by living in denial. In addition, the Orlando attack happened during Ramadhan, the Muslim month of fasting. Religious passions can be stirred during this time. This does not mean the 1.5 billion member Muslim community goes violently berserk during the fasting month, but a few can. Just in the first week of Ramadan 2016, there have been 60 attacks worldwide with 472 people killed. Some may say this is a coincidence, but is it really?
5.    War on Terror? Since September 11th, there have been over 300 jihadist attacks in the United States alone, and 28,570 worldwide. A low-level intra-Muslim world war has been occurring from Nigeria to Pakistan, with jihadis attacking fellows Muslims and non-Muslims. The fact is that Muslims are suffering from jihad even more than the West.

Stop Hate: Was this a hate crime? Yes it was. Can a hate crime be religiously-motivated? Yes it can. What is the solution? You can never conquer hate by hate: verbal attacks, physical attacks, vilification, shaming, or even imprisonment will not stop this evil in the heart. Bible-believing Christians understand that the only antidote to hate is love … God’s love. Jesus says in Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you’’ (see the entire passage Matthew 5:43-48). You will never overcome evil with evil. but you will by God’s love. Let’s pray for revival in the America and the western world, of which love will be the greatest evidence. As Paul concludes in Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Articles, Prophecy, Teaching

PANCAKES: A simple Delicious Recipe

If you want to give your family and friends a blessed breakfast surprise, try some home made pancakes. You’ll be amazed how simple and tasty they can be.
Pancakes
1 egg
1 cup self-raising flour (try the gluten-free version, if available)
2 Tablespoons oil (preferably olive or coconut oil)
1 Tablespoon sugar or honey
1 cup milk or plain Greek yogurt.
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1.     Beat the egg.
2.     Beat in the other ingredients until well mixed and smooth.
3.     If you want thinner pancakes, add more milk. For thicker, add less.
4.     Grease frying pan or griddle. Put on medium heat. The right temperature is when a few drops of water dance in the pan before evaporating.
5.     Put 3 Tablespoons of batter into the fry pan. Let cook until bubbles form on the top an the edges are dry.
6.     Flip the pancake and cook the other side until it golden brown. You can dry them on a paper towel. Serve warm.
7.     Top with butter and:
A.   pure maple syrup,
B.    golden syrup,
C.    sugar and cinnamon, or,
D.   for a savoury treat, butter and Vegemite (or Marmite).
8.     If you need to keep the pancakes warm, put them on a plate into a 100 C oven (no higher or they will dry out).
9.     Makes 10-12 pancakes
Variations:
Buttermilk Pancakes: substitute 1 cup of buttermilk for milk.
Blueberry Pancakes: Add 1/2 cup of fresh or thawed blueberries
Applesauce Pancakes: Use only 1/2 cup of milk and beat in 1/2 cup applesauce, plus 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Yogurt Pancakes: Use 1 1/4 cup plain or Greek yogurt, omit milk.
Articles, Prophecy, Teaching

‘In or Out:’ Britain Votes On Its Future in the European Union

The British are returning to the ballot box, again. This election, however, is a special one. In 2015, Britain had a national election. Upon winning, Prime Minister David Cameron of the centre-right Tory Party, perhaps under pressure from Euro-skeptics in his own party, fulfilled a campaign promise by calling for a simple ‘In or Out’ referendum on whether to remain or leave the European Union (EU).
Currently 28 out of the 50 countries in Europe belong to the EU. Prior to setting the referendum date, Cameron negotiated a ‘special deal’ with the EU, which, he claimed,protected British interests.
Britain Goes to the Polls: The date is 23 June 2016. The ‘Vote Leave Campaign’ is also called ‘Brexit’ (British exit). ’Britain Stronger in Europe’ campaign wants to remain in the EU, hence it is called ‘Bremain.’
Mr. Cameron is in the Bremain Camp, as are the leftist political parties like Labour, Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats. Yet, high profile Tories are for leaving, including Cameron’s own cabinet ministers like John Whittingdale, Theresa Villiers, Michael Gove, Chris Grayling, Priti Patel, Iain Duncan Smith and former London mayor Boris Johnson. If Britain votes to leave on June 23rd, it could encourage other countries in the EU to do likewise.
Here are the arguments on both sides, as found in campaign literature:
BREMAIN ARGUMENTS
1.      Every British household would be worse off by GBP 4,300;
2.      EU membership brings lower prices by GBP 7 a week;
3.      Three million jobs in Britain are linked to the EU, that’s one in 10;
4.      Workers’ rights like sick leave, guaranteed parental leave, paid leave are all protected by EU law;
BREXIT ARGUMENTS
1.      EU costs Britain GBP 350 million a week;
2.      Millions are spent on European Union MPs;
3.      Britain will be liable for the failure of the Euro currency, though she retains her own pound sterling;
4.      European court will continue its veto on British law, like who can come into Britain and how much tax to pay;
5.      Immigration is a hot-button issue. EU Law says member state Britain cannot stop any citizen from another member state to live in the country (British people have the same reciprocal rights to live anywhere in the EU). Currently there are 942,000 eastern Europeans and 791,000 western Europeans living in Britain. If new, poorer countries join (e.g. Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia), they, too, can live and work in Britain;
6.      Turkey: This country gets a special mention as a candidate for EU membership. If it joins, 76 million Turks will have the right to live and work anywhere in Europe, including Britain. Turkey also borders war-torn Syria and Iraq, who also have a jihadist plague. This service continually encourages readers to ‘watch Turkey’ – will it retain its Ataturk-inspired western secularism or will it return to a religious, Ottoman and fundamentalist path?
Super-Europe: One of Cameron’s biggest ‘wins’ in getting a deal with the EU is that Britain would be exempted from being drawn into the EU’s ‘ever close union.’ He promises that Britain will never be part of a European superstate, even if all other members states are.
As we been saying for years, the real goal of the European Union is not merely to be a ‘club’ where member states can prosper together and keep the Germans from starting more wars: it is a United States of Europe. Proof of this trend includes common borders, currency, commission, council, court, flag, and defence. The concurrent erosion of national sovereignty, exemplified by lack of control of borders or having local law usurped by EU law, also confirms this direction. Member states will be reduced from sovereign nations to mere provinces of a superstate called Europe.
Why Christians Want ‘Out:’ Having asked a few evangelical Christians from a variety of locations in Britain their own position, everyone of them said without hesitation: I want Out!
Why? Because the EU is considered ‘anti-Christian.’ While the EU is technically secular and allows for human rights, including ‘freedom of worship,’ it is also true that its key players are fiercely anti-religious. There appears to be no ‘exemptions’ for churches when it comes to ‘anti-discrimination’ regulations. When a failed draft constitution for the EU was written, the framers refused to even mention Christianity as part of European heritage and identity, despite pleas from the Pope and others. If Christianity had nothing to do with Europe, then why are there majestic cathedrals all over the continent?
Pagan Europe: Concerned Christians point out that if the key leaders of the EU want nothing to do with Christianity, these same secularists are warm towards Greek mythology and paganism. After all, history shows that when a person or nation refuses to believe God’s truth, they don’t stop believing anything; instead, they believe in everything.
The goddess Europa, from whom the continent derived its name, is making a comeback. She was so beautiful that Jupiter/Zeus, father of the gods, turned into a bull and had her ride his back. They dove into the Mediterranean and had children. The image of Europa on the beast is now found on some Euro coins, stamps, paintings, magazine covers, and as an actual statue  in front of a key EU building. This brings to mind the words of Revelation 17:3-5:
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
This re-paganisation of Europe has been happening for a while. Occult Babylonian archaeological remains were transferred decades ago to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, capital of Europe’s most powerful nation. These include the Ishtar Gate and Processional Way’ from Iraq and the Altar of Pergamon from Turkey. The latter is also known as the ‘seat of Satan’ (Revelation 2:13). These exhibits were more than just a prestigious display from the past – their demonic influence has been felt far and wide. It is no coincidence that Berlin, the ‘heart of Europe,’ started on a downward slide into fascism, Nazism, ‘liberal theology,’ and spawning two world wars. Could we be entering into the era the prophet Daniel spoke of, namely an empire where there are legs of iron, feet of iron and clay (Daniel 2)?

Ultimately, the future of Britain and the world is not dependant on a political negotiations or referenda, but on the prayers of Godly people (II Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 26:41; James 5:16 ). Now is the best time to start.
Articles, Prophecy, Teaching

Leaving the Wilderness Behind: Why Study the Book of Numbers

                                                                          
Introduction
Some of your favourite Bible stories and characters are found in this book. Yet it also serves as a solemn warning about the perils of disobeying God. In all cases it is folly and madness to say ‘No’ to Him.
Welcome to the Book of Numbers, the fourth of the five books of Moses, known as the Pentateuch or Torah (the Law). The stories are great and the lessons even greater.
The name in the original Hebrew is wayyedabber or ‘and he said.’ The reason for the name ‘Numbers’ is that it has to do with two censuses. The first is of the ‘generation of the exodus’ (Chapter 1), namely the children of Israel who miraculously departed from Egypt. The second census or numbering was of the ‘generation of the wilderness,’ the generation of Israelites born in the wilderness (chapter 26) to the ‘generation of the exodus.’ Though the exodus generation was headed towards the promised land of Canaan, they never reached it. Numbers will explain the dire reason why.
Key Characters:
1.       Moses the lawgiver;
2.       Aaron the high priest;
3.       Joshua the good spy, successor to Moses;
4.       Caleb, the other good spy, who survived the wilderness like Joshua
5.       Balaam, the prophet/seer who tried to curse Israel and inadvertently blessed them instead.
 Christ in Numbers:
The reason that Numbers is in the Christian Bible is that it points the way to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Here are some types of Christ found in this book:
Star out of Jacob: One of the most beautiful Messianic description is the ‘star out of Jacob’ (24:17);
City of Refuge: Christ is also our ‘city of refuge,’ where we can flee and be protected from the ‘avenger of blood;’
Brazen serpent: When Israel murmured in the wilderness against God and Moses, the Lord judged them by sending fiery serpents who had a fatal bite. When Moses appealed to the LORD for deliverance, the solution was the ‘brazen serpent’ which was used to bringing healing and deliverance from judgment (21:8). In other words, God took the problem, namely the serpent, and turned it into the solution. Whoever looked on the brazen serpent would live. Jesus uses the serpent analogy to speak of Himself (John 3:14); He, the sinless One, took our sins upon Himself, so that all who look on Christ shall live. II Corinthians 5:21 ‘For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’ See also Romans 8:3-4.
The Rock: When Israel lacked water at Rephidim, God commanded Moses to strike the rock and water would proceed (Exodus 17:6). Another incident of running out of water was at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin; this time God commanded Moses to ‘speak to the rock’ in order to obtain water. Unfortunately, Moses did not listen to the LORD. Instead, he struck the rock, like he did at Rephidim. Water came anyway but at a dreadful price. God told Moses that because of this sin Moses would not enter the promised land. Why was this judgment so severe? Because Christ is the Rock (I Corinthians 10:4) and He only needs to be struck once (crucified) for our sins; afterward, you speak to the Risen Saviour, not strike out again.
Manna: Like the manna, the bread from heaven, fed Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 11:6-9) for 40 years, Christ is the true Bread of Heaven (John 6:31-33). Whoever eats this bread lives for ever.
Theme
The high price of doubt and unbelief. This includes wandering, wilderness, unfulfilled divine promises, and death. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief – Hebrews 3:19
Key Verses
14:22-23: ‘Because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected me see it.”
Key Events in Numbers:
Chapter 01: The first census is taken of all Israelite men of military age 20 years or older who were born in Egypt and part of the exodus; the total was 603,550 (1:46). If every one of them had a wife and child, that would be 1.8 million. Sadly, this generation would not inherit the land. This is the ‘Generation of the Exodus.’
Chapter 13: The 12 spies explored Canaan for 40 days. They discovered its fertility but also the might of the local inhabitants.
Chapter 14: After 10 of the 12 spies gave an evil report of the land, the people rebel. God said this was the 10th time the generation of the exodus tempted God and therefore they would not enter the promised land. The sole exception would be Joshua and Caleb. Unbelief leads to rebellion.
Chapters 22-24:Balaam the seer was hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel. Despite his attempts, the curses turned to blessing.
Chapter 26: The second census was of the ‘generation of the wilderness,’ who were the children of the ‘generation of the exodus.’ The latter generation had died due to their unbelief so it was now time for a new stocktake.
Simple Outline of Numbers:
1-12     Generation of the Exodus
13-20   Wanderings in the Wilderness
21-36   Generation of the Wilderness; forward-march to Canaan
Lesson for Life:
Joshua and Caleb provide a sterling template of how to enter into the land of promise. Why did they succeed while the other 10 spies failed (and killed soon thereafter)? First, they followed God with a whole heart (14:24). Second, they did not have a religious spirit but a spirit of faith (13:30). While the 10 spies complained about the challenges, Caleb spoke words of faith: ‘Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.’ (13:30). Confession activates faith. Third, they gave a good report of the land (13:27; 30). It is easy to focus on circumstances and problems, but the faithful, whole-hearted believer focuses on the ‘good report.’ Proverbs 15:30 says a good report makes the bones fat and Paul exhorts us to focus on the good report (Philippians 4:8).
Follow these three steps, straight out of Numbers, and you will leave the wilderness behind as you make tracks to the promised land.

Articles, Prophecy, Teaching

TRIUMPH OF TRUMP

It is official: Donald Trump has passed the 1,237 delegate threshold. He will be the Republican Party candidate for President of the United States. What an amazing feat for a man who never held political office.
His rise is utterly remarkable, unpredictable, and unprecedented. Weeks out from the Republican Party National Convention, he knocked out 17 other Republican candidates, including well-known and experienced politicians. Trump has received more votes in a Republican presidential primary season than any other candidate in history.
Let’s face it: this is the most unusual US Presidential election in our lifetime. Well-known, experienced politicians have been sidelined while populists are taking centre stage. The experts are dumbfounded as a volatile electorate endorses candidates who would have been dismissed as improbable only a few years before. The two main populist candidates are Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.
On the far left Socialist Bernie Sanders, a US Senator from Vermont, is an independent who seeks the Democratic nomination for President. He would be comfortable with the likes of Fidel Castro, who promised the people of Cuba free education and free healthcare. Yet Castro ruled with a rod of iron in the worse tradition of totalitarian dictatorship, causing boat exodus from Cuba to Florida that dwarfs what Australia has experienced. Younger Americans view Bernie as a ‘rock star’ (‘I can feel the Bern’) who speaks about the unfairness of Wall Street, the banks, promises to write off student debt and level the economic playing field.
The Democratic front-runner, Hillary Clinton, is an intelligent, hard-working woman, with universal name recognition, an impressive resume of offices held, and plenty of campaign money. But she is viewed as ‘untrustworthy’ and ‘untruthful,’ with an on-going FBI investigation into her emails while US Secretary of State, along with her role in the collapse of Libya and the Benghazi disaster, which led to the assassination of the US ambassador Christopher Stevens. Critics say she has been big on busyness but short on accomplishments.
In the centre-left is Donald Trump, who seeks the Republican Party nomination for US President.
The ‘rise of Trump’ is an enigma, in part, because he does not easily fit into any mould. He is not a conservative in any traditional sense of the word. He is for protectionism, taxing the rich, soft on abortion and same-sex marriage. He has been married three times, did business with casinos, and attends his New York Presbyterian Church when he can.
However, the ‘conservative’ side of Trump is for border protection. He says that the global warming scare is exaggerated and the proposed solutions will harm jobs. He promises to appoint conservative Supreme Court justices and a less interventionist foreign policy (America should not be be the policeman of the world).
Americans, like other westerners, want the government safety net or entitlement programs like the Social Security (old age pension) and Medicare (government provided health care for the elderly). Never mind that these are exceedingly costly, wasteful, play a significant role in increasing the ballooning US national deficit, and are less efficient than private enterprise.
This is progressivism: it promises to ‘take care of you’ and your interests through big government involvement. In practice, it means in exchange for heavy taxes, much regulation, a more autocratic government that has no problem with interfering in people’s lives or fighting wars, ‘big brother in Washington DC’ will be watching out for you.
Despite its unsustainability and poor return, Social Security is such a sacred cow in the United States that even the mere mention of touching it arouses the wrath of ‘grey power.’ Woe to any politicians who even breathes the word ‘reform;’ they will be run out of town! So the deficit increases.
Trump is unlikely to reform the safety net – he is going to preserve it. That means, with his populist, politically incorrect message yet ‘give and take’ on conservative issues, he has a fighting chance to be President. This is remarkable considering questions on his character, gaps in knowledge, and questionable conservatism.
In any case, the 2016 US presidential election will be anything but dull.
Next month, we will look at the topic: Could God be behind the rise of Donald Trump?