ARPA Counterpoint

In the September/October 2026 update, the crew look at the following events:
Cost of Living - This could, and probably should, be a standing item for the monthly updates. With a 0.25% increase in interest rates, another one expected before the end of the year, and sticky inflation, there is only more pain on the horizon for Australian households. Servicing a new mortgage now requires, on average, 45% of your household income. In 2020, it was 30%. Do rebates and handouts, the favourite tactic of Labor governments, help with cost of living? What are some long-term solutions? Will the Coalition's recently released energy policy help? How do we see these problems, reflected in national statistics, as a reflection of what is happening in the household?
Attacks on One Nation - One Nation, who are now leading the polls, have been attacked by both Labor and the Coalition. Why are One Nation gaining popularity? Who benefits from the infighting in Conservative politics? Should there be infighting in Conservative politics? Will Liberal and One Nation be able to come together to form government (given the polls, it is likely that they will have to in future elections)? How can we be part of the solution?
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com

The crew and Pastor Jim continue the discussion on Family, this time focusing on the epidemic of "rootlessness" and how we can be part of the solution by building strong relationships within our families and churches. undermines the biblical understanding of the family. This is a wide-ranging discussion that is well worth listening to:
The result of the destruction of the family in society can be described with one word: "rootless". What does this mean?
How is this problem exemplified through music - particularly the "pop culture" trend? What does this lead to?
What might someone who time travelled here from 200 years ago find the most difficult to deal with?
How important are shared experiences for cultural formation? How do we apply this to our families?
How are the trends seen in culture also manifest in churches?
We should preference our local church. What does this mean?
What is the problem with making finding a wife your mission in life? Without a mission that you are working towards, what is your helper going to help you with? How can parents help their children find a suitable spouse?
How can the ministry from the pulpit help?
The discussion concludes with wisdom from 1945.
Pastor Jim Witteveen is an author and podcaster.
You can find his books and podcast at www.dan1132.com
English translations of Dutch publications about the covenant: www.perspectivafoederis.com
He also writes on Substack: https://dan1132.substack.com
 
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com

We are back! In the August 2026 update, the crew look at the following events:
Machetes in Perth - Earlier this year, the rise in crime involving machetes led the Victorian government to ban them. Now a gang of youth have reportedly used machetes in an attack in the Perth suburbs. How have the government and police responded? How should they respond?
Men in Women's Sport - Kirralee Smith has just lost her appeal in the High Court. She has been told to pay $95,000 in reparations for posting publicly available information about men in women's sport. Further, women are being forced to accept playing against men, even if there are legitimate concerns about safety.
Secret Harbour By-election - One Nation now have a Lower House seat in WA after their victory in the Secret Harbour By-election. It was a comprehensive result in what had been a safe Labor seat. 
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com

The crew and Pastor Jim continue the discussion on Family, this time focusing on how the "cult of the experts" undermines the biblical understanding of the family. Looking to expose how we are influenced in our everyday life, we consider the following:
What do we understand by the "cult of the experts"? Should we disregard "experts"?
In what ways does deferring to experts, particularly in the family sphere, go contrary to Scripture?
What tasks does God give us in our daily walk of life? How does He equip us to fulfil them wisely?
What is "the preferential option for the amateur"? How is this manifest in the Church?
How important is real life experience, and a proper worldview (understanding of reality) in gaining wisdom? How have the dominant progressive movements in society revealed this?
How is what we see in society a warning, particularly for the way in which we handle Scripture?
Pastor Jim Witteveen is an author and podcaster.
You can find his books and podcast at www.dan1132.com
English translations of Dutch publications about the covenant: www.perspectivafoederis.com
He also writes on Substack: https://dan1132.substack.com
 
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com

In the June 2026 monthly update, the crew "briefly" look at two topics which will take multiple episodes to cover properly:
Monoculturalism - Pauline Hanson has said that Australia should be "monocultural", while it seems like the rest of the establishment is promoting the idea of "multiculturalism". Amongst the intentional confusion surrounding the topic, we dip our toes in the water and start to look at what constitutes a culture. How do you navigate this issue? Finally, are those who push for multiculturalism hypocrites?This speech on multiculturalism is worth watching: The Failed Experiment of Multiculturalism | Lennox Kalifungwa | ACCS Repairing the Ruins 2026
Federal Budget 2026 - The federal government is attempting to fix "intergenerational inequality" in this year's federal budget, but is that what they will achieve? Is this a budget that is good for Australia?
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com

The crew (including honorary member Pastor Jim Witteveen) are back to continue the discussion on Family. This time, the topic is how the "progressive" movements which have become prominent in Western societies have undermined the biblical understanding of the family:
How have Marxism and Feminism, in particular, undermined the family by attacking God's created order?
What is the connection with egalitarianism?
Who, ultimately, is behind it all? (This is not a conspiracy theory)
What is the role of technology? Should we abandon technology?
How did Cultural Marxism progress through the 20th century?
Pastor Jim Witteveen is an author and podcaster.
You can find his books and podcast at www.dan1132.com
English translations of Dutch publications about the covenant: www.perspectivafoederis.com
He also writes on Substack: https://dan1132.substack.com
 
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com

The crew are back for the monthly update, covering:
Tickle v Giggle - Although the name of the case may be funny, the implications of the ruling are anything but. This case reveals the Federal Court's interpretation of Australian Law to the questions, "What is a Woman?", and "What is Discrimination?"
Equal Opportunity (WA) - Is Christian schooling in WA under threat? Changes to Equal Opportunity in WA have been threatened for years, but it seems like the State government are now preparing to act. What are the dangers of the proposed changes? How should we act to protect Christian schools?
Child Care - The Prime Minister is continuing his push to make universal access to institutional childcare a reality, with government subsidies now covering the costs of childcare for 3 days per week. Is this best for children, as the PM seems to be claiming? What about the scandals that have recently rocked the childcare industry?- John Anderson's interview with Erica Komisar: How Universal Childcare Could Destroy a Generation | Erica Komisar
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com

How is the language of the household important to properly understanding the Bible? That is the question that the crew and Pastor Jim start with as they continue their discussion on the importance of Family.
As the riches of Scripture are unpacked, the following are discussed:
The role of God the Father, and how fathers are called to emulate their heavenly Father in their households and the church.
God's law as blessing, forming the boundary for rich covenantal relationships.
How understanding adoption in biblical times unlocks the beauty of the biblical truth of adoption into the household of God.
How does the idea of covenant representatives or heads manifest in Scripture and our families?
Is patriarchy evil?
What is love? How should this define true headship?
Pastor Jim Witteveen is an author and podcaster.
You can find his books and podcast at www.dan1132.com
English translations of Dutch publications about the covenant: www.perspectivafoederis.com
He also writes on Substack: https://dan1132.substack.com
 
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com

The crew are back for the monthly update, covering:
NDIS - What are the changes that the government is proposing to the NDIS? 
State Development Act 2025 (WA) - The WA State government recently passed laws aimed at boosting productivity. Will this law, which gives the government special powers to fast-track approvals, achieve this aim?
Fuel Crisis Update - The current fuel crisis, brought on by the conflict in Iran, has once again exposed Australia's lack of sovereign capability. Also discussed: are Electric Vehicles the answer?
We welcome your feedback: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com

The crew and Pastor Jim continue their discussion on Family by looking at the biblical understanding of the household.
What is the difference between family and household? How does this play out in the responsibilities that we have towards one another? What have we lost in the societal changes of the last 200 years? Join the crew as they discover some of the blessings that God intends for biblical households.
 
Pastor Jim Witteveen is an author and podcaster.
You can find his books and podcast at www.dan1132.com
English translations of Dutch publications about the covenant: www.perspectivafoederis.com
He also writes on Substack: https://dan1132.substack.com
 
We'd love to hear from you: arpacounterpoint@gmail.com