Dear Friends and Family in Christ,
 
We Aussies love a bit of humor and thought that the following segment of Chasers on ABC TV trying to have a go at Pastor Danny will interest you.
 
Although we do not in any way support them and we strongly disagree with their regular content, interestingly enough, this particular program focuses on Pastor Danny receiving a warning dream from God four months before the recent bushfires in Victoria.
 
Click the following link to watch the broadcast posted on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEiu-UN7s24

(more…)

By Cardinal George Pell

Let me begin with two tales of intolerance.

On November 4 last year, the day Barack Obama was elected president of the United States, California and two other states also voted to amend their constitutions to define marriage as between a man and a woman only. This brought to 29 the number of American states with constitutional amendments recognizing only marriage between a man and a woman as valid, including Arizona which amended its constitution in 2008 after rejecting a proposed amendment in 2006. 42 states also have statutes defending the traditional understanding of marriage1. Only Massachusetts and Connecticut have legalized same-sex marriage – by court decisions, not legislation – and California’s Supreme Court had also legalized same sex marriage in May 2008, when it struck down a marriage amendment made to the state constitution in 2000. The new amendment passed last November – known as Proposition 8 – is now itself before the California Supreme Court, which yesterday [March 5] heard argument in three cases claiming it is unconstitutional. We can expect a decision from the court within the next three months2. (more…)

A wonderful evening of fellowship, food and lots of laughter – which was heard from those gathering at the Catch The Fire End of Year “Get-2-Gether” where 100 happy people gathered to enjoy a special night together!
Familes chatted and friendships renewed as an evening of honouring saw Pastor Danny & Maryse present small gifts of appreciation to team members, expressing their thankfulness for support and co-operation toward the vision.

This event is always looked forward to and year by year we seek larger venues as the team grows. A sense of excitment at the new year so full of promise and new premises to move into, to facilitate the busy office and extensive activity, was evident from those gathered. (more…)

The Parliament of the World’s Religions has caused us considerable concern over recent years as it promotes interfaith activities and puts all religions on a ‘level playing field’.

The next Parliament of the World’s Religions will be held in Melbourne in December 2009.
In Melbourne today, Thursday 6 December, there is a ‘launch’ to promote the Parliament and start taking registrations.

Of particular concern is that some Christians are actively promoting the event as something that ‘real’ Christians should endorse. Yes, ‘real’ is the word used! With the quote marks!

The official “Christian Media Alert” encourages Christian radio to support and promote the event and says “Some 200 religious and spiritual leaders will stand side-by-side at the launch, from Christian bishops to Muslim imams, Jewish rabbis, Hindu priests, Buddhist teachers and more.”
This ‘Christian Media Alert’ named Tim Costello and Rowland Croucher as promoting this event.
More on this aspect below… First, what is the Parliament of the World’s Religions’? (more…)

Dear family in Christ,

Recently I have been asked by a number of believers where I stand in relation to the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope and Roman Catholic doctrine because of entries on the Catch the Fire website.

There are many Born Again believers in the Roman Catholic Church who are saved and going to Heaven, however, what I must clearly say is that they are NOT saved by following the doctrine, traditions and sacraments of Catholicism. Those who are saved, are saved by the grace of God through faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, nothing more and nothing less.

During World Youth Week, amongst the massive crowd I saw many, many Born Again God loving young people rejoicing together and also many others who were so hungry for more than this world can offer and seeking something. This gives me great hope that our prayers for revival are being answered, may these hungry young people find salvation in Jesus. (more…)