southern cross :: december 2006

sydney stories »

God heals pain of tragic shooting

Frank and Elaine Rasmussen say it was only God’s unconditional love that enabled them to forgive Karen Brown for killing their grandson, Bill.

War stories from the good Booker

The deaths of Privates Jake Kovco and Jamie Clark have been defining moments during Tim Booker’s three years as chaplain to army battalion 3RAR.

highlight stories »

Creation: the key to understanding our world

Knowing our place as part of God’s creation helps us live with the world instead of against it.

Search begins to find new CEO

Rodney Dredge is retiring after 7 years balancing wise financial management of the Diocese with its ministry needs.

Oasis in drought despairing bush

As the suffering in rural communities increases with the worsening drought, Anglican congregations are struggling to continue their outreach with church members not immune from the despair.

National wrap

A round up of national news.

Diary of a novice minister - I’ll always be a Novice Minister

Kamal Weerakoon is combining full-time study at Moore College with ministry at St Anne’s, Strathfield. He shares his trials and joys as a trainee minister.

Kiwi crisis over gay deacon

New Zealand Anglicans appear headed for US-style divisions after the ordination of a gay man in Dunedin.

Bishop Writes with Peter Tasker - Lay training is not an optional extra

I can now say that I have been to Khartoum. Well, almost!

The rebirth of Christian Europe

When the Pope admitted Europe is lost to the gospel, he voiced what Christians toiling in the world’s most secular continent already know. Europe’s established churches have lost great swathes of young people. Islam is the new and growing religion. Can biblical Christianity survive despite the death knell predictions? Madeleine Collins and Jeremy Halcrow report.

The Big Change - Standing firm in life’s storms

It was an accidental conversation that brought Frank Rasmussen back to God. He had recently retired from the police force and was nervously awaiting an operation when the telephone rang.

Changes

Clergy changes, appointments and vacant parishes.

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features & opinion »

The Big Build - Hidden depression in men

This article reports on findings from a major study examining men’s experience of depression. The findings will equip men to detect, and act on, symptoms of depression in themselves and in others.

We should play by Sylvia’s rules

How Christians can cut through the fog of niceness

Time to get it right

Last month saw the G20 finance ministers meeting in Melbourne. However there were more events, organized by Christian leaders that were umbrella events beside the G20 meetings.

watching »

Babel

The biblical Tower of Babel was the result of an attempt to deny God his glory. Does the film of the same name repeat that ancient error?

Idle worship

Our idols reveal a fatal flaw – we will choose the obviously attractive over the genuinely good any day of the week.

Summer box office blitz

We preview four of this Summer's biggest cinema releases.

reading »

Spun Out: The Shane Warne Story

Barry’s primary interest is not to simply chronicle Shane Warne’s cricket achievements, but to turn his binoculars beyond the cricket field to examine why Warne is the paradox he is.