An online survey of issues, events and ideas
Ian Carmichael / 28th July 2004
News reports today that economists have discovered that “countries with a wide belief in hell are less corrupt and more prosperous than those without” (read article).
The report claims that the findings are based on research into the economies of 35 countries. However, in a Matthias Media exclusive report, claims of plagiarism and theft of research findings are now being raised by the estate of the late King Solomon. A spokesman for the estate cites Proverbs 10:3, 6, 15, 16, 22, 11:18, 31, etc, etc, as evidence of the fact that the findings have been known for some centuries. 
Gordon Cheng / 27th July 2004
/ The ones they wouldn't publish!
Another reject from the paper, one they definitely shoulda published...
Ian McIntyre (Letters, July 26) complains about not remembering his father's words from twenty years ago. I know what he means. My wife will tell you I can't remember what she said twenty minutes ago. So it follows that eyewitness accounts in the gospels prove nothing at all about Jesus.
Mind you, bang also go all of history, law, journalism, philosophy and anything else that requires a memory longer than that possessed by a goldfish.
Gordon Cheng / 26th July 2004
Sydney Anglicans seem to have an international reputation for being hard-line party poopers in the ecumenical endeavour to unite all churches in common cause. So it's nice to see the Sydney Morning Herald's Chris McGillion pay them a backhanded compliment when he writes of the
threat posed by Sydney Anglicans who, under the leadership of Archbishop Peter Jensen, are throwing their considerable resources behind an ambitious plan to bring Christians of all persuasions together into a Bible-based religious revival.” (SMH July 27)
If this sounds suspiciously like an ecumenical effort, you're right—and of the best sort. It is not a pretend unity, but a unity that grows out of God's own word to his rebellious world.
Ian Carmichael / 26th July 2004
Interesting to read a report in the weekend papers of a survey by a mobile phone company (nb. insert appropriate skepticism here -> <-). It was reported that 32.5% of Australians rated their mobile phone as the item they would feel the most lost without, and, according to the report, they “valued their mobile as their most prized possession”.
Reaction 1: Hey, people, get a life!
Reaction 2: Well, at least it is a possession that has to do with communicating with other people. (Hmmm... actually, the jury may still be out on that.)
Gordon Cheng / 25th July 2004
One of the more foolish pieces of wisdom ever spoken is this old English proverb: “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” On the contrary, words have the power of life and death. Proverbs 25:15 puts the lie to the sticks and stones proverb when it says
With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
The most powerful word of all is the word of the cross, which brings us from death to life.
