Archives (2002)
This page contains a listing of all
my "Christian Commentary" postings for 2002.
The archive of current postings is
here.
A separate page contains an index to
archives of my weblog, which ran from April 2002 (when I launched this
site) to around August 2002, and briefly again in May
2003. Another page has links to several
articles that I have written.
The decline in biblical literacy
continues. Many British schoolchildren believe
that "The Boy Who
Cried Wolf" is a story from the New Testament. Others wonder why Jesus could
not "fly like Superman".
December 28th, 2002
An Australian
Christmas – Sushi and Kimchi
Christmas down-under is going multi-cultural.
December 23rd, 2002
Aren't there some ethics involved, when stealing a pastor
from another church?
December 17th, 2002
Hard to believe, but just 40 years ago our newspapers often
used stories of the Bible in their editorials.
December 13th, 2002
The decline in biblical literacy in our society is a
disaster.
December 10th, 2002
A new website monitors the persecuted church.
December 6th, 2002
Praying the Online Psalms
Can we really get our spirituality from the internet?
December 2nd, 2002
Muddling through the Christian life.
November 29th, 2002
Our kids take money and mobile phones for granted. Christian
parenting isn't getting easier.
November 22nd, 2002
The Presbyterian Church is trying to
persuade a judge that only Christians should be appointed to the council of
one of our oldest and poshest boys’ schools. But what is a Christian?
November 19th, 2002
Do we lament enough when we worship? The
Sons of Korah performance group teach us about true, biblical worship.
November 16th, 2002
Bali Bombing - Laying the Blame
An archbishop blames Australia, for our support of America. Will he
apologise?
November 13th, 2002
Christians are being
hammered by change. We need to think more about the future.
November
12th, 2002
Do Christians really
want to get their news from a Christian newspaper?
November 8th, 2002
The Gaither Vocal Band
crowd have returned home safely after Saturday night’s Sydney Opera House
concert. Praise God that they avoided getting eaten by all the crocodiles.
November 5th, 2002
South Koreans welcome North Korea's nuclear bomb, the
spirituality of military power, and other reflections.
November 1st, 2002
Just War, Christians and Iraq – Where Is the Justice in Not Attacking?
Haven't the people of Iraq suffered enough?
October 29th, 2002
Saints in Waiting – the Christian Martyrs of North
Korea
Christianity could
boom in North Korea in a way that will dwarf its spectacular growth in the
South.
October 25th,
2002
The Drudge Report meets the Gulag
Archipelago. That’s how the Chosun Journal website describes itself. It is
appropriate. For the Chosun Journal is devoted to the continuing online
exposure of the horrors of the brutal North Korean regime.
October 22nd, 2002
John Mark Ministries
has got be one of the best
Christian websites around. With some 7,750 articles – and more added each
day – it also has to be one of the largest.
October 18th, 2002
Everyone loves a top ten list. Here are
the ten most popular Christian blogs.
October 15th, 2002
If the church truly wishes to be salt to
this world, then one of its most urgent tasks must be to address our
society’s post-modern, post-Christian drift away from a biblical worldview.
October 11th, 2002
Our Christian heritage is made up of stories from the Bible.
They also undergird Western culture. We must not let them die.
October 8th, 2002
Let Our
Spirituality Shine (Part II)
Australia has a rich
spiritual heritage. One of our 20th-century heroes, Weary Dunlop, was
touched by God in the World War II death camps. Yet even Christians seem
unaware of this.
September 27th, 2002
Why don't more Australians appreciate Southern Gospel?
September 24th, 2002
Does God Still
Speak to Soldiers?
In Old Testament times God spoke
regularly to Israel’s military commanders, directing their battles and
bringing about the defeat of their enemies. But what about today? Does God
still take sides?
September 21st, 2002
General Pil-Sup Lee, formerly chairman of
the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, not only believes that Christians
can make a difference in the military. He is showing how it can be done. And
more - he believes that through the military the entire nation can be
evangelised.
September 17th, 2002
Can a senior military officer truly
follow Jesus and still be an efficient and effective soldier? An emphatic
“yes” is the answer from Major General Tim Cross of the British Army.
September 13th, 2002
God loves soldiers. Christians should, too.
September 9th, 2002
Andrew Ronalds and his family are active in Christian work.
They also make the best cheese in the world.
September 6th, 2002
Too Much Information (And Way Too Much Football) – Why Ignorance Is Power
Aussie Rules football leaves me cold. How come I won a
popular football tipping contest?
September 3rd, 2002
Australia has a rich
spiritual heritage. So why don’t we shout about it?
August 30th, 2002
He says it has helped make him a better pastor.
August 27th, 2002
The Bible vs. the Ikea Catalogue – Which is Winning Hearts?
The Ikea catalogue possibly now reaches more people than the
Bible.
August
22nd, 2002
Koreans are moving into leadership roles in international
Christian bodies. Welcome.
August
20th, 2002
Making Money on the Internet – A Christian Success Story
An internet business operating from a church basement is set
to make millions.
August 16th, 2002
Korea’s Dynamic Christianity – Reflections on an Explosive Revival
Christianity continues to grow in South Korea, as it
stagnates in much of the West.
August 13th, 2002
While the world watches the Mideast, attacks continue on
Christians in Indonesia.
August 9th, 2002
Attack on Iraq – Just War or Just Plain Wrong?
The Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Forces says it
is time to rethink just war doctrines.
August 6th, 2002
Christian Blogging - Future
Directions
Are Christian bloggers just indulging themselves in a fad, or
is this an important new trend?
August 2nd, 2002
The new blogs4God web portal could develop into an important
Christian ministry.
July 30th, 2002
The Top Ten Christian Blogs
Some are excellent.
July 26th, 2002
Black Sheep of the Family
As a Christian I sometimes wonder if I'm the black sheep of
my family.
July 23rd, 2002
A
Conversation with Michael Graham
Michael Graham spent
28 years at the heart of Indian religions before becoming a Christian, about
five years ago.
July 19th, 2002
At the age of 57, Rabbi Harold Vallins turned to Jesus.
That's when the pain began.
July 16th, 2002
HIV/AIDS and Christians in Africa
Why do Africa's Christian countries seem to have the world's
highest HIV/AIDS rates?
July 12th, 2002
Is This Revival?
Long decades of
decline have made many Christians in the West defensive and insular. Could
we be missing a major movement of God in our midst - the surge in Chinese
congregations?
July
9th, 2002
Would Jesus eat broiled salmon and
cilantro salsa? Does it matter?
July
5th, 2002
With God on Their Side
In 1989,
Chinese students and workers confronted the authorities in Tiananmen Square.
The government called in the army, and in a brutal crack-down thousands of
demonstrators were killed. The leaders were forced into exile. Writer Ian
Buruma tracked them down, and he made an interesting discovery – a
surprising number have become Christians. In this article I look at the
leaders of the uprising. Is it not intriguing that their initial goal was to
change the government - now they are working to change people’s
hearts? I conclude: These people almost overturned the Chinese Communist
dynasty on their first go. What might happen now that they have God on their
side?
June 3rd, 2002
Going to Heaven
Papua New Guinea is reckoned to be one of the most Christian
countries on earth. Why is it facing an Africa-style AIDS crisis?
May 16th, 2002
Last Things for Israel?
When a gang boss moved next door to Dave and Jane, they moved
out. Might Israelis do the same?
May 12th, 2002
The super-successful TV soap opera "Neighbours" filmed their
4,000th episode at my church. I wish they hadn't.
May 11th, 2002
ABC - Going to the Dogs
Dog meat, pet care, TV documentaries and life in South Korea.
A posting that drew a big reader response.
May 8th, 2002
Keep it very, very quiet, but those
Mayday protestors demonstrating against McDonald’s, Nike and other symbols
of US-led globalisation have picked the wrong target. If you want to see
some local retailers where American hegemony reigns supreme, just check out
our evangelical bookstores.
May 5th, 2002
How a Stamp-Collecting, Church-Going, Teetotal Suburban
Solicitor Got Me into Blogging
Philip Ruddock and me.
May
3rd, 2002
Blogging for the
Lord
Growing numbers of Christians are starting
their own weblogs. Who are they? Why do they do it? What sort of audience do
they attract? What's the future for Christian blogging? This commentary
attempts some answers.
April 30th, 2002
