While virtue-signalling progressives hammer on about conditions in detention centres, and try to force Australian taxpayers to foot the bill for welfare-hopping migrants, the Nauru Government has issued a wake-up call. Published on its website on October 24, 2018, is this statement which hones in on the unscrupulous behaviour of many 'asylum seekers.' The kinds of activity mentioned in the statement will come as no surprise to those of us who are very concerned about the UN's current push for mandatory open-arms policies on migrants and refugees. Comfortable Christians who want to pin this latest social justice badge on their hats would do well to think through the implications of allowing migrants to roam about until they find the most generous foreign welfare system, forcing sovereign nations to advertise their benefits and social programmes on purpose-built websites. For that's exactly what the UN's Compacts aim to do.

The recent Victorian election has resulted in the most hardcore left-wing government in Australia being re-elected. Indeed, Premier Dan Andrews boasts about how leftist it is “We are the most progressive state in the nation.” And with majorities in both houses, that means there is now really nothing to stop him and Labor from further implementing their diabolical secular left agenda. And most of these radical agenda items have a direct – and negative – bearing on our children. The wretched “Safe Schools” programs and the like is just one example. They will now go ahead much further and much faster. I have said all along that these dangerous programs will not be confined to state high schools. Primary schools will now also be targeted, along with Catholic, independent and Christian schools. Those who want to protect their children from radical sexualisation, including all things homosexual and transgender, will increasingly find fewer and fewer alternatives available to them.

There will soon be nowhere safe for the concerned parent to send their children. Even home schooling – which is becoming a big option for many – will be targeted by our hard-left governments. Indeed, already it is being heavily monitored and regulated, and one wonders how much longer it will be a viable and safe option. And it is now very likely that a Bill Shorten Labor government will win the federal election in May, further promoting and solidifying all the ungodly and immoral leftist agendas. So between the states controlled by radical Labor-Greens ideology, and the federal government, we soon will have the entire nation under their militant and coercive hegemony. So what are parents to do? Nothing of course – that is, if parents do not mind the militant takeover of education. If they do not give a rip about the homosexual and transgender brainwashing going on in our schools, the promotion of identity politics, the dumbing down of educational standards, and the radicalisation of students by leftist teachers and education unions. Then they need not do anything. But those parents who want their children to actually learn how to think – and not just be force fed what to think – and who seek to have them adhere to Judeo-Christian values and beliefs are quickly running out of options – certainly in the public school system.

As I mentioned, home schooling is one option for now, along with private schools. But as I also mentioned, these too will not be exempt from the radical social engineering plans of Dan Andrews, Bill Shorten and others. However, for now, the real culprit is public education. What to do? Many are saying that we have only one option here: Get your kids out now! Indeed, that is basically the title of one very important new book making the rounds in America. Mary Rice Hasson and Theresa Farnan have just released Get Out Now: Why You Should Pull Your Child from Public School Before It’s Too Late (Regnery, 2018). The book is as serious and urgent as the title indicates. While describing the situation in America, it is fully applicable to what is happening here in Australia. The situation is really quite dire in America, and it seems that the only sensible option for concerned parents is to pull their kids out now before it gets even worse. I hope to have a full-length review of this book up in the next day or so, but let me here offer just a few snippets from it. The authors make a very strong case that the public education system is now so far gone that it seems to be irredeemable – at least in the foreseeable future. A paragraph in the introduction helps to set the tone for the book:

It’s time for an honest conversation about why we are losing our kids. Why are the children of patriotic Americans ready to believe the worst about their country? Why are the sons and daughters of committed believers becoming moral relativists and “nones”? Why are the children of well-grounded adults growing up unsure of “who they are” in the most basic sense—whether they are male or female—even as they embrace the mandates of identity politics?

Indeed, the opening chapters look at the madness of the transgender revolution which is being rammed down our children’s throats. The authors say that the militant LGBT gospel being peddled everywhere in our schools is the last straw, and demonstrates conclusively just how rotten to the core public education now is. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text #2" _builder_version="3.12.2"] The breath, depth and rapidity at which this evil sexual agenda has permeated all aspects of our school system is a clear indication of just how radically the schools have changed over the past half century. Indeed, the schools that most of us went to are no longer recognisable. The authors finish their book with these words:

American parents must face the reality that public schools are not going to improve in the next few decades. The political and ideological headwinds are too strong. As parents, you must first take care of your own children. It would be unthinkable to sacrifice your child’s future for the survival of the public school system. Look for alternatives: private school, parochial school, home school, cyber education, co-ops. Only you will be able to discern which school is right for your child. But we can assure you that if you are concerned about your child’s faith, intellectual formation, and patriotism, public schools are working against you. It’s time to get out, now.

But stay tuned for my full review of this very important and timely book. Australia is in the exact same boat as America is in this regard. Various radical leftist agendas have infiltrated and taken over almost all schooling in the West. Victorians now face very uncertain times with a hyper-left government in place, hell-bent on pushing deplorable anti-child agendas. Parents who care about the moral and spiritual wellbeing of their children need to prayerfully and carefully look at various options other than the state school system. Just yesterday a piece in the Herald Sun featured this headline: “More parents give school the flick.” It said this: “More Victorian families are shunning a traditional classroom education at school and are teaching their children at home with the number of home schooled students sky rocketing”.

That will increasingly be an option for many – as long as it is allowed to continue! Sure, not everyone may be able to home school, and other options will have to be looked at. But as I warned, all these options will be coming under further attack, and the future is looking very bleak indeed. We may soon get to a place where perhaps the only viable option remaining is to pack up and leave and find a country that still honours traditional and Christian values, and still seeks to help, and not harm, our children. Some of these nations still exist – including a number in eastern Europe. Maybe I will see you in Hungary! Update As mentioned, here is my review of this important book: billmuehlenberg.com/2018/11/27/a-review-of-get-out-now-by-mary-rice-hasson-and-theresa-farnan/ 

Every time a decidedly evil, ungodly and immoral politician or political party wins office, I ask myself questions such as the one found in my title. It is an oft-heard phrase found in the Old Testament. And these are the sorts of questions all true Christians should be asking at times like this. I not only ask such questions, but I feel sick in my stomach. When I see wicked men strutting their stuff, proud and arrogant, smirking as they think they are getting away with evil, I am reminded of Isaiah 3:9: “The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them!”

And I wonder why evil is allowed to go unchecked, why people are so blind as to elect such reprehensible individuals and parties, and why God allows all this to happen. And I grieve deeply for how much worse things will get – spiritually, morally, culturally and politically – when such ungodly rulers get voted in. With Dan Andrews and Labor getting back in for another four-year reign of terror in Victoria, I just groan within and get on my knees and cry out to God about all this. I do it because I understand that politics is important, and I understand the teachings of Scripture, including the biblical truths that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). I do it because I care greatly for the sort of world my children and their children will have to grow up in. I do it because I know that things will simply get much worse, and all that we care deeply about will be further attacked, undermined and destroyed.

The culture of death will simply get worse. The assault on family and children will get even more pronounced. The early sexualisation and politicisation of our children will go from bad to worse. The attack of freedom of all sorts will escalate. Christianity itself will become even more a target of the militants. I care about all this and it grieves me deeply. And I wonder why so many Christians do not seem to care. It seems they could not care less as evil triumphs and wickedness escalates. Worse yet, how many Christians actually voted for the ungodly and immoral policies of the Greens and Labor?

Victorian election results: the political

Obviously I am writing hot on the heels of today’s state election. Dan Andrews and Labor have been returned to do even more evil. While the final numbers are not fully clear, we know that the Liberals have not succeeded in replacing this diabolical government. The situation is this. Prior to the election this was the state of play. The two Houses of Parliament have 128 Members in total: 88 in the lower house (Legislative Assembly) 45 Labor 37 Liberal/National 3 Greens 3 Independent 40 in the upper house (Legislative Council) 14 Labor 16 Liberal/National 5 Greens 2 Shooters, Fishers, Farmers 1 Conservative/Independent 1 Reason 1 Local Jobs Now we seem to have something like this for the 59th Victorian Parliament, as seen in the Legislative Assembly results: 61 Labor 23 Liberal/National 2 Greens 2 Independents Politically, the short story is this: there were big swings to Labor and away from the Liberals and Nationals. It is a bad night if you are a conservative or a Christian. As I have written before, the Libs were certainly no panacea, but they would have been far better than the current mob. They had plenty of shortcomings, but at least they would have put a check on some of the evil Labor policies, and rolled back a few, such as the devilish “Safe Schools” program. But that is not to be, and the radical left agenda of Andrews will now further spin out of control.

Victorian election results: the spiritual

Spiritually, the short story is this: it seems the less Christian Australia and Victoria become, the less conservative they become. The more secular Australia and Victoria become, the more leftist they become. The two seem to go together, and we are on a real downward spiral. One can also argue that most folks – including most Christians it seems – really do not care about the things that matter. As Francis Schaeffer put it decades ago, all that matters for most people is personal peace and affluence. That’s about it sadly. I mentioned above that often God’s people asked God why evil seems to triumph. Many such verses can be mentioned here. A few of them would be the following: -Job 21:7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? -Psalm 73:2-5 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. -Psalm 94:3 How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant? -Jeremiah 12:1-2 You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. -Habakkuk 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

As it became clear that we would have more disastrous Labor rule, my mind turned to the ancient Israelites. They too experienced this. Prophets like Jeremiah warned them that their sins – unrepented of – would of necessity lead them to divine judgment. The dreaded Assyrians and Babylonians – at the time perhaps the most wicked and blood-thirsty nations around – would be used by God to judge Israel. While most folks deserved their fate, there would have been some devout and godly Jews who bewailed all this. They would have been asking God the hard questions. They would have cried out to Yahweh, asking why HIS people would be so severely judged, and why such godless, pagan nations would seem to so thoroughly triumph. Well, we know the story: we know that these times of judgment and exile were temporary. We know that eventually the Jews were able to return to their land and rebuild. Yes, much was lost, and much had to be done – they had to start over in so many ways. And that too may be our fate. Thus the godly amongst us will cry out to God. Our hearts and spirits are utterly devastated. ‘Why God do you allow such evil and wicked rulers to get away with murder?’ And that is literally what this government is doing with its diabolical abortion and euthanasia laws.

They ARE getting away with murder, and blood is on their hands. And God will not hold them guiltless. But if the Lord should tarry, eventually this government will come to an end. Perhaps more godly and principled politicians and parties will arise to take their place. As I keep saying, politics alone cannot save us, but a return to less evil rulers will be a step in the right direction. And in terms of the bigger picture, one day ALL the rule of evil will come to an end. One day all these politicians will be judged. One day the wicked and the arrogant will no longer flourish. Yes it hurts terribly in the meantime if you are a child of God, and you ache with what breaks God’s heart. In the same way Christians and others suffered horrifically under godless Soviet communism for some 70 years. How many were killed, tortured, imprisoned and exiled by this monstrous regime? Millions upon millions.

People cried out: “Where are you God?” But eventually the wall came down and the evil empire came to a crashing end. One day the Andrews’ empire of evil will end – as will all wicked human rulers and nations. Yet, in the meantime the godly amongst us will travail in pain, crying out to God for mercy. We will be asking, “How long O Lord?” We will grieve and hurt, and feel overwhelmed at times when evil comes in like a flood. But we will also know what God promised in that passage (Isaiah 59:18-20): According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay. So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. The Redeemer will come….

The case for Kings has long been voted out. The problem with Democracy is that all votes are equal, so the vote of the King was (is) worth the same as that of the average taxpayer. And the half-wit who does not know her/his own gender, the mentally deficient dole bludger who holidays in Bali on the taxpayer benefits he gets fortnightly, and the Muslim fellow down the road who wants all Infidels to do as Allah said 1400 years ago, or else: and his four wives, who will all vote as he tells them or get a beating. He and they are all on benefits too. The taxpayer weeps. The King too. Then we have the election process. The pre-selection of toadies: branch stacking; gerrymandering. The average punter has little effect on who is being voted for. And 'the system'. Designed by clods in order to conflate. More weeping and gnashing of teeth have been heard from America in the past few weeks, such that normal conversation in the Tavern has been all but drowned out. The Land of the Free has never been known for clean elections. They have barely moved on from the  Rotten Boroughs that blighted Britain.

On November 6 America had its mid-term elections, As the name implies, it comes between the presidential election cycle (in this case, between 2016 and 2020). This year all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for grabs, 33 of the 50 Senate seats, and 36 of the 50 governorships. Republicans held sway everywhere before the election: a Republican President plus a Republican-controlled House and Senate, and a majority of state governors. While we do not have the final numbers yet, it appears that the Republicans have kept three of the four, with the Democrats winning back the House.

Perhaps America needs some friendly Pacific Islands to 'store' refugees. The news - now that the Kavanaugh bizzo is over and the fake bombs bizzo is over - is of a 'caravan' (odd term when there are no camels in sight) of 'refugees walking through Mexico en route to the USA. It is a bit like the experience of Europe with thousands of odd-bods (mostly young men) walking past or through Italian and Greek villages going to Germany and Britain. Oz made a lucrative deal (listen up the Donald) with Nauru and stopped further traffic of such 'human Trafficker assisted' faux refugees to Oz. The political fall-out may last a while of course, but perhaps it is worth it. Instead of 'Sanctuary Cities', perhaps the US could have some Sanctuary Islands. Heck, they could even be purpose built, like the Chinese are doing.  

Great thinkers and writers often think and write about many great things – and a great many things. The noted Christian apologist and academic C. S. Lewis was one such person. Although he had his area of specialisation – English literature – he was conversant in, and wrote about, a myriad of subjects. Thus he could write about theology, he could pen children’s stories, he could engage in the debates of the day, and he could deal with many of the great thinkers both past and present. He also wrote on philosophical, historical and political themes.

The discrimination industry seems to dwell in a fantasy world we could simply refer to as “Alt Reality”. In this fantasy world, equal positive outcomes for females or blacks is a sign of progress, but equal negative outcomes is a sign of sexism or racism. Facts are entirely irrelevant to the narrative that white men are always powerful and privileged and therefore always the oppressors of people who are not white or male.

Debbie Garratt has had many years of involvement in counselling women and has observed, first-hand, similarities in the grief experienced by both post-abortive women and women who lost their children to adoption. This article is intended to urge pro-lifers to consider the impact of adoption on biological parents and their children. It is not meant to judge or shame those couples who have adopted and often made great sacrifices to do so, but should serve to draw attention to the deep loss experienced by adopted children.

The Greens proposal for legalising recreational marijuana is an elaborate cover created to simply raise more taxes and create greater welfare dependency. They argue that valuable cost savings will flow in diverting police time from pursuing marijuana-related crimes – locking up drug users and dealers – because as everyone knows the “war on drugs” has failed. These alleged cost-savings are also bolstered with promises of added tax revenue from sales of legal marijuana. The Greens have found any ally with libertarian LDP Senator David Leijonhelm troubled about rising national debt and welfare costs. However, these calculations rely on key assumptions and deliberately focus on one side of the economic equation. First, that a sizeable bulk of drug dealing will disappear; second, recreational marijuana has limited downstream health-related costs. Factoring in these considerations provides the net economic and community benefit.

It is normally a good thing to keep children with their parents. But not all times are normal. When parents are abusing their children, it is usually best to separate them. When a parent commits a crime and is sent to prison, then they are separated from their children, whether we like it or not. That is usually how things go. But the left has found a new issue to make a stink about. And as usual, the leftists are awash in hypocrisy, double standards, and plenty of lies and falsehoods.

What do you give a wealthy country for its birthday? A country that has everything: sunshine, beaches, forests, cities voted the 'Most Liveable in the World', abundant energy, fine healthy people, enterprise, enthusiasm. One might look forward to more of the same and perhaps even a small increase to share around with friends. What one does not want is someone taking it all away.

Abortion activists are at it again, attempting to introduce bubble-zones around New South Wales abortion facilities. As stated many times on this website, these so-called 'safe-access zones', also known as exclusion zones, are designed to stop advocates for life from offering assistance to desperate women who feel pressured to abort their children. They also hamper the freedom of political communication which should exist in a free society like Australia. Exclusion-zone law, very similar to that being proposed in New South Wales will be under the scrutiny of the High Court of Australia this year due to our legal challenge. Any politician who is realistic about the fiscal and time constraints that apply to our parliamentary system wouldn't dream of introducing legislation that has a constitutional cloud hanging over it.

There are older teachers around today that are as depressed about modern education as many of the Tavern's customers. Most ordinary punters, both dads and mums consumed with work, send their kids to what passes for schools, whether they like it or not, to have their little chaps and chapesses spend more time with a (very possibly) uneducated moron than they do with themselves. It is a bleak picture. Older folk remember many of their early years' teachers with affection and gratitude, but few kids today will have such pleasant memories.

In a Federation like Australia, different jurisdictions (States and Territories) may have different rules on what amounts to “discrimination” or “vilification”, and how those things interact with religious freedom. One of the pressing issues here in recent years has been whether there will be a “race to the bottom” in freedom of speech on religious issues, with one jurisdiction in particular, Tasmania, raising deep concerns with a very broad prohibition on causing “offence” related to matters such as sexual orientation. Today the High Court of Australia, on appeal from NSW, has affirmed the decision of the NSW Court of Appeal that State and Territory “tribunals” (non-judicial panels usually used in discrimination issues) have no jurisdiction to impose penalties on residents of other Australian jurisdictions under their own local laws.

The leftist mainstream news media fabricated a digital curtain around Manus Island and the successful offshore detention policy. The story they told was of cruel bullying of poor victims, violating the most basic human compassion. But what’s on the other side of that curated curtain? Michael Coates tells us what he witnessed first hand, without the sugar coating.

The poor and the middle class in the western world are not as far apart as some might imagine. There are many folk who stand at the Tavern's bars who would be very hard done to find a few hundred bucks at short notice. Many seemingly 'middle class' could be wiped out overnight by an unexpected expense. How are you doing? Close to skint occasionally?

[This article was updated on 28/12/17 to include the latest violent-crime incidents - Kathy.] Victorians were outraged to hear of yet another act of senseless violence which occurred only a few days before Christmas in the CBD. A car deliberately ploughed into pedestrians, injuring 19 people, including children. Fortunately, no-one was killed this time - unlike a previous similar episode which saw 6 civilians murdered and 30 injured. This attack came hot on the heels of other violent acts around Melbourne: gangs roaming Werribee and St. Kilda, terrorising neighbourhoods, threatening police but with not a single arrest being made.

A Nation that dishonours its past does not deserve a future. One could see that as something of a judgement but in fact it is a simple consequence. At times in any Nation's history an extreme effort is called for and its success is honoured. It must be honoured. But we live in - as the Chinese say - 'interesting times', (read, 'difficult') and Britain's leaders, both political and 'media' are deliberately dishonouring Britain's extreme efforts. This will not end well. In the Tavern we take a minute of silence at 11am on November 11th. It is the day we remember those that fell in the First World War.  Many young people do not even know of that war because their 'educators' do not want it remembered.  Others, too, do not want it remembered, let alone honoured. It is scandalous. Simon Jenkins....the Guardian, of course.

One of the major differences between conservatives and progressives is that we demand protections for all citizens, whereas in general, progressives demand rights for their adherents exclusively. This difference has been particularly noticeable during the campaign for marriage equality, although it shows up across the board. Progressives have taken to openly criticising us for our desire to preserve our freedoms. Gay rights activist, Rodney Croome, goes so far as to say that for conservatives - whom Croome refers to as the radical right -  the fear of losing freedoms is actually an attempt to gain power:

This letter was sent to me by a reader who felt that Christians are being misunderstood for their stance against redefining marriage. Please share this with gay friends or family members who may be having trouble understanding our point of view.