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Who owns Australia, anciently referred to as Terra Australis Incognita (Latin) - "Unknown Land of the South"? The words came 400 years ago: La Austrialia del Espiritu Santo - Australia of the Holy Spirit, without the preceding "Terra" that had previously been used. These Spanish words were spoken by a spiritually minded Portuguese navigator with an Austrian king as his Spanish monarch on Pentecost Sunday, May 14^th 1606 — were then adjusted and published in English (and Spanish) in 1625 as Australia del Espiritu Santo Purchas, vol.iv, p.1432 — then changed again in Lieutenant James Cook's journal to Astralia del Espiritu Santo in 1770.

But Cook was noting that, even as Quirós proclaimed this to be the new name for the land he had been seeking — Terra Australis — south to the Pole, he had actually been on a small island group (Vanuatu) well to the east. Click here to see a copy of his map. And Quirós's second in command Torres had sailed on and come through Torres Strait, sighting the hills of Cape York, but thought them to be only another cluster of islands.

Yes, mistakes occurred as so often happens when we "can't see the big picture". But later writers still declared their ongoing preference for that English word. So, while English explorer James Cook now named the east coast New South Wales using his incomplete map of New Holland — it had been named this by Dutch explorer Tasman in 1644 — both Matthew Flinders in 1804 and Governor Macquarie in 1817 strongly recommended that the whole country reclaim the name Australia.

Official recognition by the British Admiralty came in 1824.

Click here for more information on this naming of Australia.  

Now click here to read about a get-together with vibrant imagery (tree-planting and "bread-breaking") between our recent Australian leader (John Howard)'s family, and American leader (George Bush)'s family on Sunday, May 14^th 2006, the 400^th anniversary. It was Mother's Day. "But the mother of us all, Jerusalem on high, (Sarah) is free" says the scripture in Galatians 4:26.

And, from the depths of a Tasmanian gold-mine to the snowy heights of Mt Everest, May certainly majored in Aussies being rescued. Click here for that last one. In June, the joy (and agony) of participating in world cup soccer. Click here for a short email sent via Col Stringer. In September, the worldwide sadness, as major news websites went into meltdown, at Steve Irwin's sudden death. Click here for one writer's review.

Whether we live or die, win or lose, there is enormous appeal in the freedom, yes, and enthusiasm in someone like Steve's young, childlike (though a cynic would say childish) Aussie playfulness. To quote Bono: "things that really communicate universally are humour, grace & strength of character" - three things often seen in little children - ok not always at the same time ☺

Truly, unless you right about face and become as one of these .......

Sadly, the widespread worldview of shame, blame and guilt intimidates all so easily.

On August 14th 2006 (precisely 3 months following that Mother's day) a U.N. brokered truce was announced for Hezbollah and Israel - provisionally reckoned "a messy draw" Greg Sheridan in The Australian.

Then, under provocation on February 14th 2007 (6 months later), John Howard declared in Parliament why he was so adamant about keeping 1400 Australian personnel in Iraq to support U.S. troops. "A defeat in Iraq for the United States would be more than bad for the war against terrorism; it would be catastrophic," Mr Howard said. "It would lead to not only a bloodbath in Iraq but the destabilisation of Saudi Arabia and Jordan and the end of any real hope of getting a Palestinian peace settlement. It would also embolden the terrorist cause in our part of the world."

Click Here for Latest World News updated October 11th, 2008.

TIME (click here for Timeline) can be seen as approaching

6000 years mankind on its own. 31 years with the bridegroom, the Son of God.

1. 4018 BC: 2008 years of the Father: Love —despite man's rejection and shame—
   The Father (the Creator of all): Adam to Abraham. From the Beginning.
    
2. 2010 BC: 2008 years of the Son: birthed in Grace / Favour / Joy / Faith.
   The Son (Spoken Word→ Living Word): Isaac to Jesus. Ever Present.
    
3. 2 BC: 2008 years of the Holy Spirit: with Partying / Partnering / Peace / Hope
   The Holy Spirit (Indwelling — God's Down Payment on the Inheritance):
   Heralding Christ to Heralding His Return. Future Hope. 2 Corinthians 13:14
    
4. Seven Years Exposure (click here for info) with U.N. declaration Sep 23, 2006.