June 28, 2012 Steps to Life Newsletter

Point to Ponder?  Does Being Not All Bad Make Something All Right?

While we are cogitating on the deep and meaningful, here are some more questions of a similar nature.  Would you fly in an airplane that was designed and built by engineers who did not believe in the laws of aerodynamics? Would you buy a house from a builder whose own house collapsed due to incorrectly constructed foundations?  Would you buy a house in an earthquake zone from a builder who did not believe that an earthquake might occur?  Would you get help from a family counselor whose own family relationships had disintegrated due to their assumptions and beliefs about nurturing families? Would you have a septic tank installed by a plumber who did not believe that liquids don’t always flow down hill?  These questions are yours to answer, but your answers have application to the realm of your religion.

When buying goods, services or accepting ideas and beliefs, if we do our due diligence before we act or accept, we usually check out the reputation, background, associations, behaviours of the person, company, group, etc, first.  Not always is everything disclosed. Despite doing one’s best it still is possible to be lead up the garden path.   In some countries the faults in a buildings construction aren’t discovered until the earthquake gives it a shake.  The consequences can be terrible.  Particularly in areas of spirituality we need to do our due diligence on where our beliefs come from.  Life’s earthquakes can destroy us if we don’t. The questions above have special significance when considered in the light of eternal destiny.

In the Bible, the prophetic ‘Time of the End’, commenced in 1798. The signal event was the deadly wound to the Beast of Revelation 13.  The Protestant Reformation and surge of Protestant evangelistic outreach was greatly stimulated by the Pope being dethroned and held in isolation by the French (Read the account in Great Controversy, EG White or James Wylie’s Histories of Christianity and Protestantism).  This paved the way for a growing social, political, and industrial transformation of the western world, the rise of the printing press, newspapers, wireless and telephone, steamships, the ascendancy of the USA (The lamb like beast in Revelation), the rise the ‘isms’ -  socialism, communism, etc - and western democracy, a range of Protestant churches, the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Protestant missionary societies sprang up in England and Europe.  They sent missionaries to the non western world, evangelized their own countries and funded the printing and distribution of Bibles, particularly the King James Bible (KJV), like never before.  Satan was on the back foot in the battle for souls.  No longer did state churches control and dictate through ruling classes as they had done for centuries.  An educated middle class emerged with opinions and beliefs and the ability to make them be heard.

In the later part of the 19th century and the first part of the 20th century ordinary people got the chance to send their children to school to learn to read.  The KJV was the reading textbooks for many, being a standard of beauty, clarity and expression of the English language.  England became the dominant world empire to the point where the sun never set on the British Empire, taking the English language around the world. This further expanded the influence of the KJV, because so many people had the language skills to read it.  The cause of Satan (lost souls) was vigorously under attack. The distribution of readable and affordable Bibles for ordinary folk was prolific.  No longer could a controlling Catholic Church suppress and distort scripture.  What would the responses be of the forces of darkness?

Enter the London Spiritualists, the New Age Movement, the Ghostly Gould, the Theosophical Society, Annie Bessant,  Madame Blavatsky, Alice Bailey and B. F. Westcott,  F.J.A. Hort,  around the late 1800’s.  Their intentions were to marry New Age Mysticism into Protestant Christianity to provide one world government and religion.  They were spiritualists.  Westcott and Hort were both spiritualists, academics specializing in the ancient languages and Darwinians.  Satan’s agenda was to use these people to produce Bible translations that in many ways distorted the clarity, meanings and authenticity of the KJV and the Greek manuscripts of the scriptures.  Space does not permit a fuller documentation of this.  However, there are a number of well researched books which provide the history and distortion of Satan’s subtle modern day attack on accurate translations of the Bible.  Detailed coverage’s of the topic can be found in  New Age Bible Versions, G. A. Riplinger and Our Authorized Bible Vindicated, B. G. Wilkinson, to name just two   A concise summary is found in the Amazing Facts small booklet, The Faithful Witness, Sharon Thomas Crews.  This booklet is now only available through secondhand book sales but is an excellent summary reference.

Understanding who led the committees which produced the modern Bible translations, their associations and spiritual leanings and the context in which a number of Bible versions were produced helps us decide which Bible versions we can trust as we search the scripture for meaning and salvation. If we want accurate spiritual insight why rely, even if it is easy to read, on translations prepared by people whose personal belief and practice were in direct contradiction to many Biblical teachings.  So, I ask the questions again – does not being all bad, make something all right?  Would you fly in an airplane that was designed and built by engineers who did not believe in the laws of aerodynamics?

Cancellation of Grandparents Retreat

We have cancelled our previously advertised Grandparents Retreat because there were insufficient live-in registrations to make it a viable weekend.  We would like to express our appreciation to Pastor John Chan for making himself available to lead the retreat, which will now not be taking place.

Website Specials Page

As a new feature of the Steps to Life Home Page ( http://www.steps.org.au/)  we will be running on a monthly basis a list of  ‘specials’  -  books and health products which will be available below their normal retail prices from August onwards.

Another Dr Neil Nedley Depression Recovery Program Has Commenced at STL

STL has just commenced its DRP for 2012.  We have a full group who are greatly appreciating the opportunity.  In response to the advertising for the present DRP a consultant from an Australian Government employment services agency called to talk about whether STL could offer a day time program in support of their clients who need assistance with depression and anxiety.  We would be pleased to do so and await further contact.

Who Is Marriage For?  Heterosexual Couples or Homosexual Couples

The Ausralian Marriage Forum is a Christian based group who have acted to put a Christian perspective on this very important and hotly disputed social topic.  While you may not agree with everything that is said and perhaps wish that other things had been said,

what is presented in the video material provided, certainly is a most helpful airing of much of the Christian belief that marriage is for a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, in the union Christians have always defined as marriage.  Therefore by Christian definition, same sex couples fall outside of the Christian defintion of marriage.  Marriage is a Christian concept that is being hijacked and redefined.  It is a 'must see' video that helps in the formation of a rational Christian view point on heterosexual marriage as opposed to a homosexual union.

You can find it at www.acl.org.au/2012/06/marriage-webcast It is called 'Defining Marriage'. Further articles can be found at: www.australianmarriage.org

Do You Appreciate Receiving the STL News Letter?  Do You Benefit From the Seminars and Programs Conducted by STL?

If your answer is ‘no’ could you take the time to drop us an email telling us how we can encourage and help you in your spiritual walk?  If your answer is ‘yes’ we say ‘praise God’ and please share the newsletter with others who you think would like to know about STL and it’s programs.  That’s how we grow!

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Stay strong.  Be active in your witness. Blessings from Cherryl and the STL Team

Brian Way

Programs Coordinator