Café

• 
  All Delighted People
  Reviewed by Sophie Gyles
• 
  Meaning at the Movies
  Reviewed by Joshua Maule
• 
  The Ghost Writer
  Reviewed by Jamie Dunk
• 
  Christianity Alongside Islam
  Reviewed by Stephanie Brooking

• “Ethics” tussle continues. Major submission by Scripture lessons supporters
• Whose Land
• Blackstump cancelled
• Election myths busted

• The Mystery of Suffering
• Floods in Pakistan and Paddington: Who’s to Blame?
• Living the Dream - Inception (2010)
• God’s Revelation

• Hipster Faith
• Stuff Christian Hipsters Like
• Spotlight: Before We Were Hipsters
• The Tricky H-Word
• And Glenn Beck Shall Lead Them

They’re off! Electionfest 2010 starts in SA, Tas

1:00am Wednesday, 3rd March 2010  

20 on which end of town a new hospital gets built and which footy oval gets refurbished. “Its not attracting much heat so far, to be honest,” says Australian Christian Lobby’s Rob Ward.
But he points to one sleeper issue: as churches get more serious about the “biblical mandate to serve the poor some church groups are nervous that neither of the major parties want to partner with their social-concern arms.”
Christians will have the option of  a Family First candidate in each electorate, as well as an upper house team . “We are confident that we can hold Robert Brokenshire’s seat in the Legislative Council” says Family First party leader Dennis Hood. “We are also hopeful that we will gain another seat or two in the Lower House or Legislative Council.
Family First points to the passing of its bills that have assisted police convict paedophiles by revoking the statute of limitations on sexual offences and ensuring that pornographic movies must not be kept in a separate location in South Australian video stores.
Hood is not up for re-election this time and has four years left in his term in the upper house.
But Rob Ward says that “I think it will be tough for family first this time. They have done a good job but the reality is that they are a small party. I pray that they will do well.”
He predicts that the “no Pokies” party vote will drop now that leader Nick Xenophon is in the Senate —“he is the party”.
In the Tasmanian election which is also held on March 20, Christians will choose between Labor, Liberal and green parties.  The Australian Christian Lobby will hold a “Make it Count” event on Feb 15 with the Premier and Opposition Leader which will be webcast. Church leaders will quiz the party heads. ACL’s site is tasvotes.org.
“Anti–discrimination laws are a key issue” says the ACL Tasmanian Director Nick Overton. “They could be tightened so that you cannot say anything to offend others on the ground of religious beliefs or sexual orientation.” But he says Christians will vote on a broad base of concerns including homelessness and disability services.
“The Greens have just announced that they will get rid of every poker machine in the state. It will interesting to see if the major parties move.”