Why the 2016 Census May Be My Last
Like most Australians, I have seen the slow moving train wreck that is the 2016 Australian Census. As a keen observer of technology, I have been following #CensusFail. It is not my intention to comment on the technical failings of the data collection debacle. Instead, I want to look at the bigger picture of how that data - which is likely to be more biased because of #CensusFail - will be used beyond what was publicised. Philosophically, I have no issue with a census being conducted. One of my first jobs was as a census collector in 1996. Through-out thousands of years of history, census' have been conducted. As Christian's when the government requires something - provided it does not go against Scripture - we are to comply. Besides, the birth of our Saviour in Bethlehem was due to... Read more
Digesting ‘Gay Marriage’ in Australia
The push for legalising same sex marriage in Australia seems unstoppable. Our cultural drumbeat says gay marriage in Australia is not a matter of 'if', but 'when'. 'Get on the right side of history', is proclaimed. If gay marriage is inevitable, then how should Christians react? Allow me to give you a few thoughts. 1. Recognising our World: Let me start out by saying that I oppose efforts to re-define marriage. I've written other articles about what Bible has to say about sexuality and marriage. This article is not written to justify gay marriage, but rather sadly recognise that probably the majority of Australian hearts have already hardened towards God on this issue. Allowing gay marriage in this nation may well be part of God's consequential judgement. God has a history of... Read more
Jumping the Shark with the Duggars
It is the story that just will not go away. The story of Josh Duggars teenage actions keeps spinning off more and more new stories. Much like they kept on having more children, it has us asking, 'When will it all stop'? Maybe we are fascinated with them because of their TV series or maybe their standards resonate with some aspects of our upbringing. But there is no denying that the legend of the Duggars keeps growing. Now the story of the Duggars is hitting mainstream media in Australia. As is usually the case with the media - which is increasingly becoming tabloid quality - stories are crafted for 'click-bait' reasons. Yet, we often fall for the bait, by sharing a story, collecting comments and passing judgement, all in a matter of hours. The online world tends to operate as ju... Read more
God’s Heart for Community
From the very beginning of time, God purposefully designed and destined us for interrelationships. In Genesis 1:26, we have the first glimpse of God (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) determining to create mankind when he said ‘Let us make man in our own own image’ And God did not just create man to display his power, he created Adam to have a direct relationship with him. As primary as our individual relationship with God is, God also created us for other relationships. Still in creation, God said that it is not good for man to be alone. In Genesis 2:18, God said that It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable to him. For man he created a female helpmeet. He then instructed Adam and Eve to reproduce and form new family units. God defined and... Read more
Freedom of Speech, Censorship, and the Gospel
Note: I first started writing this post over 2 years ago, but never published it. Since the advent of the Charlie Hebdo massacre and subsequent hot debates about cartoon depictions, religious expression, and equating Christian and Muslim extremism, I have decided to finish and post it. Principles of Free Speech One of the great 'principles' of the Free World is 'Freedom of Speech'. I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it' is a famous quote often attributed to the secular French Voltaire. The idea is that freedom of speech (or religious liberty) is not about everyone believing the same things, but rather about everyone respecting each other's individual right towards choosing their beliefs. After the Paris massacres, the application of Volta... Read more
