April 7, 2016 Steps to Life Newsletter

Dear STL Supporter

A Heart of Compassion Moves the Hands to Action

So said the sign on a church notice board. Our Christian compassion is needed like it never was before. Why? Because we are living in a world that has just about reached its end and people are really hurting.

What's it like to live in the world just before Jesus comes a second time? Take time to look around at what's happening. So often we can be so close to the cacophony of chaos that we fail to see the rapid decline. We see the events as some sort of normal when in fact they are extra-ordinary. Our world nationally and globally is chaotic, complex, stressful, fearful and personally unsafe. The environment is degrading rapidly. Mass destruction is caused by war, dumping of waste, disposal of toxic chemicals used in industry to make money and natural disaster. People are displaying unnatural affections - same sex attraction, disregard for family bonds, boundaries of decency and personal safety have disappeared. Political turmoil abounds. The news media feed off it. Constant and unprecedented forms of war and rumours of wars are the background to life. Millions of people suffer enormous hardship as a result. Terrorism at home and abroad. Pressure mounts for religious unity and conformity. Personal freedom is eroded to protect our personal safety. Human and animal life is cheap. Immorality of all sorts is rampant. The overwhelming stress of all this causing all sorts of mental, physical, family and social breakdown.

Do we recognize the world we are living in? Do we see the intensity and frequency of these descriptors occurring? How long can all this go on before society, as we know it, on a national and international scale, completely and totally collapses? And what comes out of the collapse? Most probably the so-called New World Order - one world religion, one world currency and one world government!

Is it any wonder that as the conditions on planet Earth worsen the pressure and worry created cause mental illness to skyrocket? This in turn brings further pressure on society and our relationships and people are being forced to turn to drug medication to ease the pain and distress. The Melbourne Sun Herald of January 10, 2016 reported that since 2008/9 there has been a 16% increase in children from the age of two years being prescribed anti depressants for conditions including autism, child abuse and self harm, etc. In the under 16 age group from 2009 to 2013 the use of prescribed anti-depressants jumped by 42% and across all age groups for this time period the use of anti-depressants increased by 95.3%. (Australia has the second highest use of ant-depressant drugs in the OECD)

Bible commentator Ellen White tells us that - Those who place themselves under God's control, to be led and guided by him, will catch the steady trend of the events ordained by him to take place. Inspired with the spirit of him who gave his life for the life of the world, they will no longer stand still in impotency, pointing to what they cannot do. Putting on the armor of heaven, they will go forth into the warfare, willing to do and dare for God, knowing that his omnipotence will supply their need. (RH Aug 5, 1902, par 17)

Are we currently catching that steady trend? Putting on the armour of heaven? Being inspired to do and dare for God?

So, do we have a heart of compassion that moves our hands to action?

The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago-a revelation of Christ. A great work of reform is demanded, and it is only through the grace of Christ that the work of restoration, physical, mental, and spiritual, can be accomplished. Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow Me." There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit. (Ministry of Healing, 143, 2 - 4)

Jesus said - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid... And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. (John 14: 27, 29) It's all happening right now. Do we believe?

Steps to Life Supports the Olmalaika Home for Girls.

The Olmalaika Home for Girls, in Kenya, is run by Kim DeWitt. Kim has created a safe haven for Masai girls who are at risk of female genital mutilation. To help raise funds for the home STL has produced a DVD which tells about the home and how it operates. It also tells of how Kim's early childhood life experience created in her a desire to rescue girls who faced FGM. All profits from the sale of the DVD go to the Olmalaika Home for Girls. If you would like to support Kim's work you can order a DVD through STL. Cost: $16.50 + postage.

The Dragon Revealed Down Under, Eric and Sarah Wilson.

Eric and Sarah conducted our much appreciated last seminar. The DVDs, digital downloads and MP3's are available through the STL shop. They are a powerful set of six programs covering in-depth how the mystical worship practice of eastern paganism are infiltrating the west through martial arts, eastern 'natural' healing practices and contemplative so-called Christian worship techniques.

Julian Archer - Faith vs Finance, Saturday, April 9, 3pm - 8pm

We are pleased to welcome Julian to STL. He will be presenting his Faith vs Finance meeting series from the Steps to Life Studio on Sabbath afternoon, April 9. His presentations will be recorded and released as DVDs and as an MP3 for those who cannot come to the studio. See brochure in attachments above for more information.

Next Sunday Health Seminar: Living, Loving Relationships With Jenifer Skues, May 1

Unhappy relationships destroy a person. Happy relationships bring mental and physical health - at home, with friends and at work. Jenifer will be speaking on this very important topic. A DVD set will be released following the Sunday Health Seminar

Coming in August: Weekend Spiritual Seminar With Carl Martin - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. - Discerning the Signs: A Prophetic View of Current Events

How do you make sense of what is happening in our world today? Our next speaker and author Carl Martin takes us on a five-part journey, sifting through the most current headlines and laying them alongside inspired end-time prophecies. Beginning with the fall of Lucifer and his plans to hijack every plan God has implemented and moving next to a closer look at both world and church events, Carl then comes full circle with a look into our heavenly future and how we prepare for the closing events where sin and Satan are ultimately defeated. Come and join us for a prophetic view of current events as we discern the times through the lens of end-time prophecies.

Christian greetings from Cherryl and the Steps to Life team.

Brian Way/Programs Coordinator