Current Events
Courage & Faith
I saw a touching portrait of personal courage and faith over the weekend. In their HSC (12) Year, a student is facing a protracted stay in hospital after a similar stay in hospital in the previous year. The first thing that struck me was their personal courage. Thinking back to my own Year 12 experience [...]
The Beginning of Sorrows
At our ladies’ Bible study, we recently had a stimulating discussion about why God sends natural disasters. The text for the morning was from Psalm 39 where the troubled Psalmist pleads desperately, “I am mute; I do not open my mouth for it is you who have done it.” The implication here is that God [...]
Ending up where he always belonged?
Kevin Rudd has enjoyed a resurgence of sorts. With Federal Labor holding on to power by the slimmest of margins, it has been forced to focus on governing rather than carrying out the usual post-election executions. And make no mistake, Rudd was on the top of the list. But to use a beautiful Old Testament [...]
Religion In Australia: Statistics
Here are some interesting religion statistics. According to the ABS 2006 census (the most recent): About 13 million or 64% of Australians called themselves “Christian.” However, only about 7.5% attend any church services weekly (NCLS Research 2004). The main denominations continue to decline slowly, while 19% of Australians claimed “no religion.” Another two million did [...]
Dodgy Governments
Every day we are reminded of the incompetence of government. We hear it on the news and from our co-workers. We remember it when we’re stuck in traffic or waiting for a bureaucrat to answer the phone. Misguided policies and wasteful programs are commonplace. (I speak as a long-suffering New South Welshman) Whether it’s a [...]
When a Dad got on his bike
There was a story in the media recently that caught my attention. It revolved around the bike riding Ken Thompson, former NSW Deputy Fire Chief. Thompson’s marriage collapsed when his wife Melinda chose to separate in January 2008 amid claims that he had molested their 3 year old son Andrew. When allegations like this are [...]
John Vaughn to Speak in Sydney/Cairns
Dr. John C. Vaughn is Pastor Emeritus of Faith Baptist Church, Taylors, SC and President of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International. He is also the author of More Precious Than Gold, a touching account of the fire that changed the Vaughn’s lives forever. Pastor Vaughn was my pastor for five years and has impacted my [...]
Two for the Price of One
I am not sure if Labour is trying to give ‘added value’ for your vote, but we have the spectacle of Kevin Rudd being included on the front line of Labour’s campaign push for re-election. As one journalist has noted: In six weeks, Labor has dumped Kevin 07 as leader because he was unpopular, installed [...]
Remember my bonds
I scan literally tens of thousands of blog posts a year in my work here at InFocus. It is at least a weekly—if not daily—event to read of persecution of believers around the world. I chose long ago not to focus on reporting such things on InFocus. My primary reason being that others are already [...]
Dead, buried and cremated…till the next election
The ghost of Work Choices still haunts Tony Abbott and his bid to enter the Lodge. While he has tried to distance himself from the previous industrial reforms that were a vote loser for John Howard, this issue will not go away. What was Abbott thinking when he pulled the ‘written promise’ stunt during a [...]
An ode upon the occasion of a final exam
[A brief doggerel composed on the surface of my desk in a moment of overwhelming boredom.] . If you can read this message drear Forsooth you may assume That some poor soul hath scribbled here As he await his doom.
Election 2010
About this time last year, the next federal election was going to be fought between Rudd v Turnbull It then quickly changed to Rudd v Abbott Labour has now changed its jockey and it will now be Gillard v Abbott Both parties have now seemed to settle on their leaders. The election will be won [...]
