The descriptor ‘multi-faith society’ possibly is incorrect in a society such as Australia if we wish to include everyone and hold everyone accountable within this society. Perhaps ‘Living in a Multi-ideology Society’ is more appropriate because this includes everyone – every person has an ideology, a belief system whether that includes a belief in God or not.

Art, particularly painting, is an area that I believe God wants to reclaim for the church. It has been an important part of the church in the past, but after many years of little interest, it seems that there is a resurgence of art within the church.

Ok, now Chris, do you mind if I call you Chris?, why do you want to be in detox? Well, you see,.. yes, no, it’s not my first time. Last time it lasted a while but I relapsed.

Dear Fellow Ministers in the 21st Century, I stared at the ceiling in bed, last night, contemplating recent conversations with fellow Pastors about the exhausting past 12 months. It’s not been a hugely fruitful time, certainly not compared to our hopes. No huge breakthroughs, just a couple of green shoots through the concrete. Maybe even grass. But no lawn.

When I was a Councillor for the City of Melbourne I was appointed to the Bid Committee for the Parliament of World’s Religions to come to town. At first I wasn’t interested. I don’t particularly like religion and I have a hard enough time with the religious aspects of my own faith, but when one is serving the City on behalf of the voting majority one has to do some things that are not high on the list of ‘things I gotta do before I graduate’.

The crowd of one hundred at the Ethos Launch on March 27th were treated to a sumptuous feast provided by Hot Dish caterers and Tim Costello (CEO World Vision) , Mick Pope and Amar Breckenridge (Ethos Environment). The providential coincidence with Global Earth Hour and the candle-lit ambience called for light on the situation. Our three speakers ably obliged.

On the weekend of March 13-14, Melbourne will host the Global Atheism Convention, with Richard Dawkins as a main speaker. No doubt the airwaves, as well as letters to the editor and opinion pieces in the print media and numerous blogs will endlessly recycle a persistent urban myth about the relationship between science and faith. An urban myth is demonstrably untrue, yet continues to be believed at a popular level, stubbornly resisting correction. In The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins presupposes this myth: that science has disproved religion. What is the evidence, largely ignored, that this is in fact, just a myth?

The contemporary Australian and global multi-religious environments can’t be ignored. The growing momentum of different religions globally is impacting on the position and status of Christianity. This diversity was on show recently when Melbourne hosted the week-long Parliament of the World’s Religions, the fourth of its kind since 1993. Over 6,000 delegates from 80 countries and 220 religions/faith belief systems attended.

Evangelism, in our post- modern/post-Christian first world West is, if not a ‘dirty’ word, then a word conspicuous by its absence! Some say that statement’s a bit rash, but is it? I suppose it depends on who you talk to and where their ‘Biblical head’ is at!

The plans for planting Northside Evangelical Church gained serious momentum in September 2006. Several highly recommended books on Church Planting were read, leaders who had church planting experience were consulted and a very fancy looking strategic plan was developed. To be honest it all looked very complicated and difficult, especially because we seemed to lack three key ingredients: - people, time and financial resources.