Curriculum head gives Christian perspectives a nod

EXCLUSIVE David Hastie Education Writer

Professor Barry McGaw, Chairperson of the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Agency (ACARA) has stated that it is “right and appropriate” for Australian Christian faith based schools to integrate the Christian worldview throughout their teaching of the incoming national Australian Curriculum.

The secret of really happy kids

If you’re happy and you know it... Michael Jensen on why education without the gospel won’t produce happy kids

Converted at School

Lea Carswell on when she was  a 14 year old misfit and found Jesus

Women with Impact

Here’s proof that it’s not just sport stars that Australia produces more than our fair share of. Wes Jay picks his line up of our top female Christian singers.

Wiping out Trachoma

Stephanie Gaut of CBM As a Project Officer in West Africa, CBM Australia’s Anna Gaskill has seen firsthand the affects of the painful and disabling eye disease trachoma. Tell us about someone you met who had trachoma. I’ll never forget meeting Martha in northern Kenya last year. She was an older woman, perhaps in her 60s, and had come into a clinic run by CBM’s partner. The eye nurse diagnosed Martha with trachoma and booked her in for eyelid surgery to save her sight. Martha had endured so much pain already, and kept tweezers hanging on a cord around her neck to quickly pluck out her eyelashes when the pain got too much. If she didn’t do this, the constant rubbing on her eye caused terrible pain. Martha had the eyelid rotation surgery and has now avoided blindness. Plus she longer needs to carry her tweezers.

World Whirl

Daniel Willis takes you around the world

Mission means welcome

During August 14–15, the annual ReachOut Mission Conference will be held at Katoomba with David Cook, SMBC, and Femi Adeleye, IFES, speaking. See http://www.reachoutmissions.com.au for more details.

Reading the Bible with Hagar

The Psalmist writes, “How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?” (Psalm 137:4). This is a beautiful question springing from the heart of a poet struggling to live out in a strange land (Babylon) what he knows to be true in a more familiar context (Jerusalem). This question has stimulated missional communities of grassroots leaders in Latin America under the banner of the Center For Transforming Mission (CTM).
We are learning how to read the Bible not to, or even for, those we serve, but with those we serve—those who have been wrongly labelled the least, last and lost. Behind this approach is the belief that grace is like water; it flows downhill and pools in the lowest places. We are learning to see God’s grace pooling in places of extreme poverty and violence.

Poems by Andrew Lansdown

From "Birds in Mind" a collection of work by one of Australia's most published Christian poets

What does it mean to be Christian?

Tim Costello answers Christian critics of World Vision

Timor fightback

While combating tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria, the Timor Leste Government is striving to eradicate leprosy by the end of this year as a major public health problem. It is looking to one Australian Christian woman to help achieve the goal.

Getting Church Right

Archie Poulos says Australians can learn from the English.
Yes, really.

SCRIPTURE IN SCHOOLS Debating the threat from the “ethics” trial 2

PART TWO In NSW the State Government has allowed a trial of a secular ethics course in the Scripture timeslot in primary schools. Many Christians are concerned that less students—maybe many less students—will choose Scripture. But is making a fuss the best response? Craig Schwarze says the Scripture campaign PROMOTES the ethics classes.

SCRIPTURE IN SCHOOLS Debating the threat from the “ethics” trial 1

In NSW the State Government has allowed a trial of a secular ethicscourse in the Scripture timeslot in primary schools. Many
Christians are concerned that less students—maybe many less students—will choose Scripture. But is making a fuss the best response?

Jeremy Halcrow passionately supports the campaign to defend Scripture classes. Too much is at stake to be silent.

DEBATE Defending our rights 2

The case against: The Federal Government is not going ahead with a human rights charter that some Christians saw as a danger to
Christian freedoms. But should we have been looking after our own rights, or others’ rights? David Palmer of the Presbyterian Church
Victoria’s Church and Nation Committee defends the campaign against the charter.