Here’s another one that I wrote that didn’t get in. Is there some sort of record I’m at risk of breaking?

Like many readers, I take part in a work footy tipping competition on Fairfax’s League HQ website. Today I received an email from League HQ reminding me that the NRL Finals are just around the corner, so why not take advantage of their offer of a “Free bet of up to $100” with SportsOdds. Of course, we all know why businesses offer “free” samples to people – they’re hoping they’ll sign up as customers, with Fairfax presumably getting some sort of fee for every person who signs up. When the Herald next runs a story on the gambling industry and the damage it does to people’s lives, will you advise readers that Fairfax has blood on its’ hands, and is actively pushing gambling for financial return?

That might have gone through if you hadn’t talked about blood....

Here’s one I wrote about Adam Cullen’s work for the Blake Prize, last week for the SMH. One of many failures!

Dear editor,

Adam Cullen’s work is indeed ugly, and may even be insulting, if such things can be judged from the
images of his work. But any depiction of the crucifixion suffers from being less ugly and insulting than the real thing. The idea that God might become a man and that we might crucify him is an outrage at every level, and the problem visual artists have to deal with is that they are merely scribbling in the margins of what human sin has already achieved.

Gordon Cheng - 11 August 2008 03:14 PM

Here’s one I wrote about Adam Cullen’s work for the Blake Prize, last week for the SMH. One of many failures!

Dear editor,

Adam Cullen’s work is indeed ugly, and may even be insulting, if such things can be judged from the
images of his work. But any depiction of the crucifixion suffers from being less ugly and insulting than the real thing. The idea that God might become a man and that we might crucify him is an outrage at every level, and the problem visual artists have to deal with is that they are merely scribbling in the margins of what human sin has already achieved.

A bit too close for comfort I think.

I shoot! I fail!

Dear editor,

I can’t agree with Greg Clarke that we should teach the Bible in our schools—at least, not for the reason he suggests. It is a very dangerous book, and includes warnings that it is capable of bringing destruction and judgement upon its readers (See 2 Peter 3:16). To cause people to read the Bible with the intention of improving their status as members of the secular elite—as Clarke seems to be suggesting—is undoubtedly one of the things that Jesus warned against when he spoke about “pearls before swine” (another famous but dangerous Bible phrase).

Yours sincerely,

The Rev. Gordon Cheng

(Too many parentheses)

Here’s my failure, responding to a bloke who said people don’t read the Bible because it is a lousy read

Ian Waters, how much of the Bible have you actually read? I’m guessing not all of its 66 books and 1189 chapters. Parts of it are not easy to read, but I’ve managed it six times in the past 3 years, each time in a different version, and each of them presenting the same message. It is a very different book from what most people think it is, but most people haven’t read it. It is a magnificent book, and definitely worth the effort.
David McKay

Here’s my response to Jane Caro’s article:

Back in the 1870’s, when the NSW Public Schools system was set up, an agreement was reached between the Protestant Churches of NSW and the Premier of the day. The churches would hand over the schools they operated, without compensation, and in exchange the churches gained the right to instruct public school students belonging to their denomination in that denomination’s beliefs. If school scripture is to be removed, as Jane Caro argues for, is she prepared to compensate the churches for the value of the land and buildings (adjusted to today’s values) of the schools they gave up to the NSW government?

I hope I got my facts right.

Given that our success on Tuesday regarding the Jane Caro article set off the secularists on Wednesday, I thought I’d have another go:

Does anybody else find it ironic that Jane Caro (Opinion, 22/9/08), with over 20 year’s experience in the advertising industry, is calling for restrictions to be placed on religions’ marketing their beliefs to kids?

Another one that missed (smh):

Dear editor,

Pastor Kevin Harris ("Baptist raises hell in Jewish dialogue”, SMH, Nov 19) sounds awfully like he is teetering on the edge of anti-Semitism when he speaks of the threat of hell for Jewish believers.
At least, until you realize that Pastor Harris, and millions of other Christians, are simply echoing the words of the Great Jew. It’s Jesus who said:"I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” (Luke 12:5). If Pastor Harris believes this warning, then to echo it is not anti-semitism but love.