Sexual Orientation Bill

Dear Ms Kelly,

I write to you in regard to the above regulations, which as you are aware, are due to come into force later this year. (April 2007).

I am deeply concerned about the regulations and their intent and purpose. I have lived all my life in the United Kingdom and have always known that we are a mainly Christian country holding solid values and upholding sound doctrines and ethics.

Over the years I have seen a degradation of those values in societal terms to the point of near anarchy currently. In such times I have always also known that the government of the day were there to defend those values that we hold so high (and rightly so).

I am extremely concerned about the SOR and the impact they will no doubt have on our family structure and on society in general.

You will, of course, have guessed by now that I am a practicing Christian who believes strongly in God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and all that this represents. I hold a literal belief that God's word is in the Bible and everything that this represents.

The Bible is quite clear that homosexuality and lesbianism is quite wrong; this is not my judgement (who am I to judge others?) - it is God's judgement. The problem will face us all in the afterlife and there is no escape from that encounter.

However, the problem will exist for those that are left behind, until the second coming of Christ.

If you were to cast your mind back around 40 years to the mid sixties and compare values and attitudes at that time you would see a very different picture to today's situation. We had respect, care, love and affection and values that held God's name in reverence. Even if you weren't a believer in Christ most had some respect for others who did.

I would agree that homosexuality was treated wrongly then as it is today; it had a stigma attached to it that made those who were homosexual feel outcasts - and that is wrong. But can no-one see here the great mistake that is being made/? Can no-one see the tremendous wrong that it about to be committed?

We live in a society that condones almost everything, for the sake of the minority and I suspect at times for an easy life. If I am not prepared to accept the unreasonable and being rational and usual then it is I who become the unreasonable one.

How are we to explain to God, when the day of reckoning arrives, as it most surely will, how are we to explain the process and physical activities involved in homosexuality and lesbianism. The physical, acts that take place. Imagine trying to explain that to your own children during puberty and then also state that these things are quite reasonable and acceptable.Further, take a stab at explaining away the fact that these activities are outlawed by God in his word - the Bible.

It is not I who am judging here, but the word of God, it's in the Bible.
Let's now turn there for a moment. I have a right to hold a belief, I have a right to worship and I have a right to make decisions based around my faith.
Until now, almost every law of this great country has been based on the Bible, so upholding Christian values means upholding what I know to be right and proper. The introduction of the Sexual Orientation Regulations steps outside of these values in a phenomenal way. It departs from the word of God and becomes the word of man.

This is a dangerous step and should be taken with great fear of retribution (of course the step shouldn't be taken at all).
Have you any idea whatever how things will be in 30 or 40 years time. These regulations are the thin end of the wedge. The beginning of the end of Christian values. I am sure you are aware that such things are predicted in the Bible for the last days, the end times, the great falling away from Christ and the values associated with the Christian faith. It is not that we are setting ourselves up to be "better" or "holier" or "perfect" in any way.
We are all sinners in the eyes of God.

Most people know what is right and wrong instinctively - most people have a gut feel for good and evil. The things that these regulations are making everyone accept as OK and normal - ask yourself - "Do they really sound normal to you?" Does it sound "OK to you?

I run a business and do so on Christian values; I understand that once these regulations come into force I will be a criminal if I refuse to employ or work with gays. You make me a criminal because I am a Christian! What right have you or any government got that is greater than Gods values and ethics?

If you look back into our history you will see thousands of occasions when people have been prepared to die, to put their life on the line, for their Christian values and belief in Christ. And now the government of the day are to enact a regulation that takes away my right to practice my faith.

My prayer is this, Ms Kelly, no more and no less. That first of all by some miracle these regulations are scrapped and that God will open some one's eyes to the folly and reckless actions that will ensue upon such an enactment. I pray that someone will be made aware of the great sin that is about to be committed.

Secondly, I pray that the whole of society will become aware of the divine existence and presence. We are so far from God in this country that it is becoming terrifying.

Thirdly and finally I pray for the government, that they will see the error in the path being taken. It is never to late to turn back and God will always be there, - for all of us.

May God Bless You

Bill

Settling Down

Major communication problems , as the telephone link to Ebyown and the surrounding area has been stolen!!! Telephone engineers are busy relaying the cables, but it could take a while.
Meanwhile Mum is anxious at not being able to speak to her daughter and the only form of communication is via text messages.
Erin is settling down and has realised how hard the work and total experience will be, but we know that she will do more than just cope, she will be amazing!
Please pray for the communication link to be repaired and for Erin's readjustment to South Africa.