Join the Resistance!

The Barna Group and "Christian" David Kinnerman have released a new poll. Derek Rishmawy has some important observations about it:

Barna Shock Poll: Christians Still Need Jesus

Article by Derek Rishmawy

"The Barna Group released a new poll last week in which the proposed question was: “Are Christians more like Jesus or the Pharisees?” Christians get accused of hypocrisy all the time, so why not see if there’s some statistical evidence to back up the claim?

According to the Christian Post:

    "The findings were derived from 1,008 telephone interviews of which 718 respondents self-identified as Christian from Nov. 11 until Nov. 18, 2012. Respondents who identified themselves as Christian were asked 20 questions, ten of which compared their responses to Jesus’ actions and attitudes and ten of which compared their responses to the Pharisees of the New Testament.".....

An important petition that you should consider signing is one that is asking the Government to repeal the law that does not allow doctors to have freedom of conscience so they don't have to refer a woman to a doctor who will perform an abortion.

Click here to go to change.org to sign this petition.

A compelling article about sex selection and the role abortion plays.

Redefining Personhood

Daniel Farrugia, 2nd May 2013

"What defines a “you”?

Ultimately, the discussion regarding the rights and wrongs of abortion hangs on two questions:

    Do persons have the right to life?
    What defines a person?

The first question is actually more complicated than you think, and your gut reflex answer, if you’re reading this in a Western context, will actually be influenced by centuries of cultural conditioning that has its roots in Christianity. But that’s another post on its own, and this one is already longer than I’d hoped. But the second… well, do they look like a human being? Do they act a certain way? Possess certain qualities of thought and reaction that differentiate them from animals? Do they possess a particular genome? All of these definitions have their own problems, and I could give examples to prick holes in all of them, as I’m sure the careful reader could. Do they possess a human soul? At present, not a measurable quality, so not really helpful in this discussion unless you can be sure when it occurs. I recall a teacher at school, who justified abortion prior to the formation of a particular neural region in the developing foetus, as prior to this there was no nervous activity. I personally disagree with all of these, as the only person who has a right to define what a human being is, is our maker....."

Click here to read the full article.

Article by Cameron Spink

The front page article on today's mX (you know the little tabloid that is littered over Metro's trains each afternoon) discussed how “half of all pregnancies in Australia aren't planned, with young women sticking with the most unreliable forms of contraception”. The article goes on to state that the contraceptive pill and condoms were the preferable method of preventing pregnancy for women aged 18 to 23 yet women should be considering impants and Intra Uterine Devices as they are a more complete protection against getting pregnant.

But let us explore this so-called “more effective” method of using intrauterine devices. Here is a short introduction into how this contraceptive device works:

Article by Cameron Spink

There are many promises in the New Testament that Christians will face persecution. Paul tells his readers if they follow his example they will be risking much:

“You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

2 Timothy 3:12 - 13 (ESV)

In this message to Timothy we glimpse how much this apostle has had to face in his ministry and travels for the sake of the Gospel. Yet he shows a nonchalant attitude about his suffering because “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. Paul expected great hardship because of his affiliation with what was perceived as a sect of Judaism. Not only did he expect it but anyone who followed his example should anticipate persecution. But Paul saw the bigger picture and recognised that God is provident in every situation that he had been led into.

Article by Cameron Spink

This Sunday we will be celebrating Mothers Day. It will be the 104^th anniversary of the first occasion when Anna Jarvis decided to honour her deceased mother. Since then this day has undergone serious commercialisation at the hands of various companies who have profited from the extra sales of gifts and cards, as is their way.

This Mothers Day we get some other new attachments since its commencement. Popular US magazine The New Yorker has decided to go for a more “enlightened” take on Mothers Day on the cover of its latest magazine.