August 10, 2012 Steps to Life Newsletter

Welcome to another Steps to Life newsletter

Generations of the 20th and 21st Centuries: Where Do We Fit?

Sociologists take delight in defining and describing the generations which have lived and are living in the 20th and  21st centuries by their values, as shaped by the world surrounding each of the generations.  The values identified are assumed to be the determinants of the attitudes and behaviours of each generation.  This social tool is seen as being useful as it is both descriptive and predictive of a demographic group’s behaviour. An Australian author, Bernard Salt, has written a series of books using his generational group analysis to explain and predict the Australia we now live in and will move into in the future.   One of Salt’s books is entitled ‘The Big Tilt.  It’s subtitled What happens when the boomers bust and the Xers and Ys inherit the earth?  Right now we are starting to find this out as people born into these generations start exerting their values as voters, community, business and political leaders.  The scenarios predicted are somewhat different to the Bible’s version of the meek inheriting the earth. 

So Salt and others tell us that in the western world we have the Lost Generation (Born 1883 to 1900, fought WW1), The Greatest Generation (1901 to 1924, survivors of the Great Depression and WW2), The Silent Generation 1925 to 1945, children of the Great Depression and too young to fight in WW2), The Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964, a demographic bulge which has worked hard, had privileges and opportunities beyond those experienced by grandparents and parents), Generation X or Baby Busters  (1965 to 1981, seen as really special by their Baby Boomer parents who worked hard to establish themselves and then were wealthy enough to indulge the baby busters. They have lived in a feel good world where no one is seen to fail and do not take to constructive honest criticism very well.  Why? Because their parents in the mane failed to teach them accountability), Generation Y (1982 to 1999, known as the first digitals surrounded by mass digital communications, seeing terrorism and the War on Terrorism as normality, and cyber realism as the real world, also mollycoddled by their parents as their parents modeled their parents parenting practice on the parenting they  experienced), Generation Z or I (2000 to ???, described as digital natives, saturated with the internet, cyber realism (sic), totally surrounded by international conflict, entertainment, pornography but living in a world where previous levels of work and standards of living are not able to be widely maintained.  They face challenges different to any their forebears from great grandparents on faced).  Which generational description is relevant to you and me?

So this is a view of the End Time generations as provided by secular analysis. Surprisingly it says nothing of the expanding use of social drug taking, music, film and TV and their impact on the social, moral and sexual morals of these generations.

The Bible describes the social analysis of the End Time Generations through different eyes  It adds deeper and different descriptions of where these generations stand in world history.

It tells us the generations are living now are on the cusp of  a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation ..and ultimate delivery from this trouble for … everyone that shall be found written in the book. (Dan 12: 1).  It also talks about the generations… .of scoffers, walking after their own lusts. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Pet 3: 3, 4).  The book of Timothy tells us the generations living now are living in perilous times.  As well as scoffing at the promise of Jesus’ second coming ….men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: …  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (2 Tim 3: 1 to 8)  The daily news documents the accuracy of the Apostle Paul’s predictions to young Timothy in sickening detail.  What a challenging generational description!!

While predicting the behaviour and values of the End Time Generations in a sadly negative but accurate way, at the same time, the Bible predicts a subset of the six billion plus people living in the world at the end of it’s history, in a totally positive and encouraging light.  The contrast is stark.  The choice is clear.  It says that this generational subset of the world’s population who are seen by God as the Overcomer Generation have completely rejected the values and behaviours of their contemporaries.  They display … the patience of the saints.  They … keep the commandments of God … and have …the faith of Jesus. (Rev 14: 12).  The theme of much of the New Testament is about a group of people living as the world approaches self destruct, which rejects the temptations of a world gone wild, and who commit to the values and mores implicit in the Ten Commandments, demonstrated through the life of Jesus.  They accept the power for victorious living offered by dependence on Jesus, their redeemer and Great High Priest, who is working on their behalf in heaven.  As the Apostle John recorded the Revelation given him by Jesus for the Overcomer Generation, he wrote …  they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;…  (Rev 10:11).  Which generation do we choose to belong to?  Only one matters.

What’s Happening With the Sunday Alliance Movement?

In our newsletter of September, 2011 we drew your attention to the activities of the European Sunday Alliance (ESA) and the Pope’s nomination of 2012 as being the Year of the Family. The two are linked together to push for Sunday to become in  a work free day for purposes of social and family cohesion.  Family cohesion (and who can argue with the need for it) is the Trojan Horse being used to justify Sunday Worship.

The rational is that family cohesion is achieved through families and communities having time dedicated to worshipping, relaxing and playing together.  This is a different concept to the God given Bible Sabbath that says nothing about Sabbath playing together and has a different conatation to Sabbath rest.  Since its launch, the ESA has encouraged activities which include an across Europe, Sunday for Work Free Sundays (in March), a Croatian Call for Action Day on work free Sundays (February 29), workshops on work free Sundays in Vienna (May 17 to 22), the establishment of a ‘Kopling Youth Making Sunday’ web site (June 12) and The Sunday in Spain Celebration May 2012).  These models of Sunday keeping have all included worship, playing and relaxing in a very secular sense.  In Austria, the Constitutional Court has just ruled (July 11, 2012) that the prohibition of shop opening on Sundays and public holidays in Austria is not unconstitutional.  In doing this the court said,  Even if a social change has occurred, the ban could still be justified by public interest in protecting and preserving the weekend rest…..  .  The press report described the courts ruling as a ‘Landmark decision’

At the same time Pope Benedict XVI has continued to promote the need for Sunday rest in 2012.  He is reported as saying 

• The demands of work can't bully people out of needed time off. Sunday must be a day of rest for everyone, so people can be free to be with their families and with God … (Catholic News Service (CNS) -June 6, 2012)
• By defending Sunday, one defends human freedom. (Weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square June 6, 2012)
• The Pope, during the World Meeting of Families, said that he had been struck by reports of the challenges of families due to economic difficulties, divorce, etc. His main thrust was the need to set aside the Sabbath (Sunday) for worship and family time. The Pope told his listeners that - Sunday is the day of the Lord, the day of man, a day in which everyone must be free - free for the family and free for God. By defending Sunday we defend man's freedom.

The foundations for a universal call for Sunday worship are constantly being laid.  Noted Christian author, Ellen White wrote  - Those who place themselves under God's control, to be led and guided by Him, will catch the steady trend of events ordained by Him to take place.  (Review and Herald, Aug. 5, 1902)

Amazing Discoveries TV Satellite Channel Went Live in Australia on August 1.

We, as a long time Australian distributor of  Amazing Discoveries DVDs, are pleased to pass on to you the exciting news that AD TV is now available to Australia through free to air satellite on the Optus D2 satellite. Here are the settings for receiving AD TV -  Ku Band Optus D2 Satellite - Position: 152° East, D/L Frequency: 12,608 MHz, Polarity: Horizontal, Symbol Rate: 22,500, F.E.C.: ¾, TXP14U.  In Melbourne you can get tuning help from Owen Maunder – 0419 366 931, Thomas McKeon – 0413 101 522. In the Bundaberg district James Tregenza can help you – 0431 672 914.

What’s happening at STL?

Currently we are conducting two Depression Recovery Programs a week. That makes six, ten week long DRPs in three years for just over 100 people. With Oscar Sande as presenter STL has hosted three Sunday Health Seminars in the last three months.  Attendance remains high.  Oscar’s themes have been The Gut Connection (x 2 sessions) and The Gluten Connection.  DVDs of all the programs should be available in our shop or from Oscar next week.  Our first free homeschooler seminar was conducted and filmed at the STL studio this week.  Dr Glenda Jackson presented her research on the topic of How Students View Homeschooling. We will advise when the DVD is available.  On our web site www,steps.org.au  there are a number of new additions, some of them being – Tony Ryker’s sermon  - “Made Like Unto His Brethren” (An examination of the nature of Christ), helpful additions to the Health Page.  The Family and Home school support page is now live and interactive.  There is a link to Voice Persona (www.voicepersona.com) – audio books for children, young at heart and adults (Home Education Page). Our “Monthly Special Page” is up and running on the website shop.   We are excited to have negotiated with Do and Dare Youth Ministry, a full Sabbath day children’s health program to accompany Pr. Jim Bracketts speaking tour in October/November, for Melbourne and Sydney.  There is plenty happening at STL and still more to come as the year continues.

Can You help STL? 

The present economic slowdown in Australia is impacting financially on STL, as it is on many Australians.  STL is a nonprofit ministry, often prayerfully stepping out in faith to run programs to help meet the health and spiritual needs of the communities it has influence in.  Overheads are kept to a minimum.  We aim to cover costs through offerings, donations, sale of health and Christian resource products.  Your help through prayer support, planning to donate to STL and sharing our newsletters with your friends is much needed and always appreciated.  We are an onshore ministry with God’s guidance targeting the needs of Australians.  God is good and we thank Him for His goodness. Please note the book of the month. Millions of this book has been distributed throughout USA and Europe as a mighty outreach. 

Christian greetings and regards from Cherryl and the STL Team,

Brian Way

(Programs Co-ordinator)