August 1, 2016 Steps to Life Newsletter

Dear STL Supporter

Only a Few Things are Truly Awesome

Only a few things are truly awesome. Modern language has diminished the original meaning of the word 'awesome'. The word 'awe' can be traced back to the 1600's and came into use to express the feelings of great admiration, reverential respect, fear and inexpressible wonder. 'Awe' and 'awesome' were often used in relation to the worship of God or the complexity of His creation. These days 'awesome' is a throwaway word used to describe the mundane that one likes. How many times have you heard the expression 'have an awesome day' or something similar. I prefer the original use of the word because its meaning is reserved for things that are truly grand and sublime, even to the point of being incomprehensible.

Glaciers are one of the things that are truly 'awesome' in the original sense of the word. They are formed hundreds, even thousands of years back in time by climatic events which cause packed snow to very slowly move through a geographical area gouging, grinding and shaping the land formation they pass through with incredible power. To watch the face of a glacier is awe inspiring. They crack, explode, reflect the beautiful colours of the light of the sun, calve, gradually become icebergs in a sea of ice or form mountain streams.

The stream of Bible prophecy is somewhat like a glacier. When understood it is truly awesome and points to an awesome God. It moves inexorably (Impossible to stop, alter, or resist) at God's predetermined pace to its conclusion. It shapes the world about it and nothing in its path can withstand what God has preordained. It creates history and shapes our lives. Its unfolding is at God's command as He gives humankind repeated opportunity for salvation. Prophecy, like a glacier, ultimately comes to its fulfilment. The fulfilment of the Bible stream of prophecy culminates in the second coming of Jesus. Try as he may Satan can't stop this happening. It's inexorable!

In recent months, even years, we have seen the glacier of prophetic world events moving perhaps faster than sometimes it has moved in our life time.

We see the rise of the 'equality and rights' movements which in part have morphed into the 'equality of gay marriage rights' movement and overturned the roles which men and women were created to harmoniously carry out. Watch what happens next - polyamory recogmition- the 'right' for groups of people to marry. It's all happening with inexorable glacial social force.

Right now we see the present pope leading all religions and government leaders back to recognize and respect the 'mother church'. The current 'Year of Mercy', the 2016 Jubilee, was first announced by pope Francis on March 13, 2015 and is spelt out in detail in his April 2015 papal bull of indiction, Misericordiae Vultus. It is the 27th Catholic church holy year in history. It leads into 2017.

In 2017, 500 years have elapsed since the start of the Reformation when Catholic monk, Martin Luther, nailed to a church door his 95 'protests' to the unscriptural teachings of the Catholic church starting a movement that lead to the establishment of Protestantism. Both Catholicism and much of Protestantism, including and being led by the Lutheran church - the church that arose out of Luther's theses - will be celebrating a reunification. The ground work is already in place for this momentous set of events to take place. October 31, 2017

A Catholic press release says this - The joint Lutheran-Catholic ecumenical commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation on 31 October in Lund, Sweden will consist of two parts. It will begin with a liturgy in Lund Cathedral and continue with a public event at Malmo Arena...The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Roman Catholic Church joint event will highlight the 50 years of continuous ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans and the joint gifts of this collaboration. The Catholic-Lutheran commemoration of 500 years of the Reformation is structured around the themes of thanksgiving, repentance and commitment to common witness. The aim is to express the gifts of the Reformation and ask forgiveness for division perpetuated by Christians from the two traditions....Highlights of the joint work of LWF World Service and Caritas Internationalis will be featured, including care for refugees, peace building, and advocacy for climate justice....Pope Francis, LWF President Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan and LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge will lead the common prayer service in Lund and the event in Malmo in cooperation with leaders from Church of Sweden and the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm'. (Holy See Press Office, June 1, 2016) The glacier of ecumenism is grinding forward.

What are you and I and our collective churches doing to point out that all the issues Martin Luther had with Catholicism still exist in one form or other today? A so called improved understanding is a euphemism for compromise. All the world is wondering after the beast as it regains power and authority over the world. (Refer to Rev. 13: 3 and 4)

We see the feet of 'iron and clay' of Daniel's metal image (Daniel 2) once again disintegrating and destabilizing the world as Britain through the Brexit plebiscite held in June voted to leave the European Community. In turn Britain has destabilized its own government, the EC and the world economy. We see the frightening chaos of the USA elections and the spectre this is raising for the world. Does order come out of chaos or does chaos lead to opportunity for world control via massive change and compromise? (If you haven't viewed Dr. Walter Veith's from Crete to Malta DVD series, you are missing out on an outstanding analysis of the glacial like religious/political process that is grinding forward to its prophetic end.)

We see the impact of 'forced migration', terrorism and opportunism as well meaning people struggle to address a gigantic crisis of humanity that appears to be unsolvable.

Our world needs a saviour. The Bible predicts that Satan will try and provide one, but ultimately God is in charge and he holds the winds of turmoil in check until its time for Jesus to return. Don't be caught out or lose hope.

'The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.' Testimonies vol. 9, page 11

2017 - 500 Years After Luther

Pastor Abel Struksnes' booklet is available free of charge through STL. It's an excellent coverage of the movement to unify both Catholicism and Protestantism. If you would like a copy please contact us. We will need to charge you postage. Alternatively you can visit www.endtme.net and download it from there, as well as follow his developing commentary on the fragmentation of Europe and the ecumenical religious movement

Next STL Spiritual Seminar Series - Discerning the Signs. August, 2016. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Country Locations

Please refer to the enclosed/attached brochure for details. Our presenter is Carl Martin. His biography is in the brochure. We have been planning this seminar with him for about 12 months now. His theme and individual presentations will help us see that God is in control of world events and how this can be a great assurance to us as we see them unfolding around about.

Coming Sabbath Afternoon Seminar at STL with Pastor Pawel Cieslar, September 17, 4pm 'No Heil Hitler!'

Pastor Cieslar recently released his book No Heil Hitler. It has quickly become a great inspiration to many as he tells of the way in which he and his family maintained their faith as Seventh-day Adventist through the dark years of Hitler's regime during World War II. Pastor Cieslar will be recording a DVD of his story and the events that surrounded it on the afternoon of Sabbath, September 17. You are invited to be part of the studio audience for his presentation which will venture into some new areas not included in his book. Advertising to follow

Christian greetings from Cherryl and the STL Team

Brian Way/Programs Coordinator