The Canberra Declaration
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 8:09PM The Preamble to the Australian Constitution contains the words, "Humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God”. As Australian citizens we continue to declare that we too put our trust in Almighty God.
For centuries, to speak of Western civilisation was to speak of Christian civilisation. The two were in many ways synonymous. The values that we have cherished and sought to strengthen are in large measure founded on the Judeo-Christian belief system. The many freedoms, advantages, opportunities, values and liberties which characterise the West owe much to the growth of Christianity with its inherent belief in the dignity of the human person as created in the image of God and the code of behaviour that flows from this belief.
The Canberra Declaration follows on from the 2009 Manhattan Declaration and the 2010 Westminster Declaration. It declares that when Christian values are respected and allowed freedom of expression, not just confined to so-called sacred spaces but in the public arena as well, society is richer and healthier.
We wish to emphasise three areas that demand particular attention in our contemporary Australian society, namely religious freedom, marriage and the family, and the sanctity of human life. Were we to undermine any one of these values, the social fabric of our nation would be seriously weakened, to our personal and collective detriment.
Religious Freedom
Religious freedom includes freedom of conscience and freedom of speech. The importance of these freedoms is shown in countries where they are threatened or absent. Police states and totalitarian nations inevitably begin with the curtailment of basic liberties, including religious freedom and the right to speak one’s mind and conscience. This includes the right to change one’s religious beliefs.
We affirm the basic necessity of freedom of conscience, having the liberty to speak publicly about one’s faith and beliefs, and having the right to practise the religion of one’s choice. If these freedoms are removed – even in the name of supposed benefits – the prized values of democracy and liberty are seriously undermined.
In Australia today these freedoms are being restricted by laws which, although appearing positive on first reading, have the potential to lead to unintended and unacceptable consequences. These laws include anti-discrimination legislation, hate crime laws and legislation on religious and sexual vilification – each of which may be interpreted in a way that effectively works as a barrier to religious freedom and freedom of speech.
Thus the signers of this declaration affirm the fundamental right of Australians to religious freedom and freedom of speech, and we oppose legislation which denies such freedoms. We likewise oppose laws subjugating our nation to foreign powers and instrumentalities which restrict these freedoms.
Marriage and Family
Another vital package of values and social benefits is the long-standing institution of the natural family resulting from marriage between a man and a woman – as affirmed by the definition of marriage in the Marriage Act: “…the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life”.
No other social institution has done so much good for people and for nations, yet marriage is being undermined, to the detriment of children, individuals, and society itself.
Lifelong marriage between a man and a woman guarantees children their biological birthright to a mother and a father and has a proven track record of providing them with protection, education, welfare, support and nurture. No other arrangement has improved upon the benefits of marriage.
In the face of competing alternatives and moves to redefine marriage, we affirm the importance and social utility of marriage between a man and a woman and the families formed thereby.
Human Life
The third important set of values revolves around the sanctity of human life which is being undermined in much of the Western world, through abortion, euthanasia, and some of the new reproductive technologies.
We believe that all human life, being made in the image of God, has intrinsic and equal value from conception to life’s natural end.
The very heart of a humane and civilised society is based on the way it treats its most vulnerable and innocent members including the unborn and the disabled. We therefore insist on the right of all persons, including those who are vulnerable or dependent, to protection from conception to natural death. We will support, protect, and be advocates for such people, since to do anything less is to weaken our humanity and despise our personhood.
We will not comply with any directive that compels us to participate in or facilitate abortion, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or any other act that involves the intentional taking of innocent human life.
Conclusion
Religious freedom, marriage and family, and the sacredness of human life have provided the foundations enabling Western democratic societies to flourish. We erode these foundations at our peril.
The faith which is at the heart of many of the values and strengths underpinning the Australian nation now compels us to speak up in their defence.
For the future of this nation, and for our children’s future, we call upon all like-minded citizens to support and sign this declaration.
http://www.canberradeclaration.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=3
A Call For 40 Days of Prayer & fasting
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 11:00PM From the 5th July - 13th August will be a Call to Prayer and Fasting leading up to the National Gathering in Canberra.
There has been some major titanic shifts that have been occurring in the nation of Australia.
We are inviting you all who are part of the family of Generation fire to join is this Call to Prayer.
The focus of our prayers over this 40 day period is for the healing of the land according to 2 Chronicles 7:14 We are also praying for the nation of Australia itself - It's time that this nation step into it's purpose and call in Christ Jesus
There is also a call to pray for the marriages and families of Australia during this time
Australia will soon be facing a Federal Election and the denigration of our nation’s Christian values is of concern to us all as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The current political machinations of the past few weeks have been a catalyst for this Call to Prayer. Nevertheless these are not the only issues:
In Victoria, which is our new Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s home state, they can abort a baby up to birth. NSW is just as bad with high rates of abortion and the proposed Homosexual Adoption Bill which has been put forward by Clover Moore MP. Yet no state of Australia has a monopoly on vice as "all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God".
We, as the people of God, must accept responsibility and cry out to God for forgiveness on behalf of our land. We must also pray for our leaders as in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 which includes our new Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott. It is critical at this time that we pray for them.
The scriptural injunction for our prayers is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
In Joel 2:15-17 we read, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
Ezekiel 22: 30-31 says, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
The people of God have a responsibility to intercede for the nation just as Daniel did and say forgive us "our" sin. Daniel is one of the few men in the bible who had no sins recorded against his name but he still said forgive "us" Lord. Abraham did the same as he interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. Fasting is all about humbling ourselves before God. The Hebrew word "Kana" for humbling is used in the same context to describe fasting. It is about denying ourselves as a prayer to God.
You don’t have to fast every day over the 40 day period. Miss a meal once a day or fast once a week. Miss out on your sweets, drop tea and coffee or conduct a Daniel fast and go vegetarian for 40 days. There are many ways to fast. Whichever way you pray and fast do it unto the Lord.
Please join in this Call to Prayer for our nation. It says in Proverbs, "Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach for any people". Please pass this information on to all individuals, churches and prayer groups interested in prayer so that as many as possible can join in this 40 Days of Prayer for our nation. Let us believe together for an outpouring of grace and healing from God for our nation.
Source: The fatherhood foundation, Generation fire
Generation Fire National Gathering
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 11:46PM
GENERATION FIRE NATIONAL GATHERING 2010
Is Just 2 weeks to go - don't miss out on such an amazing opportunity to connect.
Below is the short video for this Gathering.
To find out more click on this link
Welcome To the New Website for Generation fire
Friday, July 18, 2008 at 6:37AM Welcome to Generation fire Below is our Promo video about the movement.
Promo Video
We are excited to now go live with this new platform - this new website will be enable you to communicate directly with the team, share your stories, upload photos and be able to download resource to fuel what God is doing in your local church and community.
There are many exciting things taking place right now across cities and nations.
Below is some Important information on how you can partner with this movement and sow the seeds of blessing to this generation.
PARTNERING WITH THE NEXT GENERATION
Generation Fire Inc has recently been endorsed as a Tax Consession Charity with the Australian Taxation Office which means we are now legally a Charity however donations are not tax deductible at this stage.
We are now putting out the call for those who believe in this ministry to partner with the movement as we seek to raise a Generation who are called to carry and spread the fire of God
The amount is between you and the Holy Spirit as we encourage generous giving not giving under compulsion.
How your gift will help advance the Kingdom of God
- Helping Advance the Kingdom through sowing into producing resource for teaching and equipping the next generation
- Sponsoring teams to spread the fire of God in Bangladesh, Solomon Islands, India & Nepal
- Equipping the next generation in Australia
- Helping Generation Fire Host Strategic Gatherings that activate and empower people into their calling and destiny
- Raising a new breed of revivalists through the Internship
- Touching lives through the various Justice Projects currently in Bangladesh & India
- Helping start Prayer Furnaces in Every University Campus across Australia