Signs of the Times

June 2006

Trisha Broadbridge: Young Australian of the Year

The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami ended both her honeymoon and the life of her new husband. Yet Trisha Broadbridge lives to bring life to those who suffered similar loss. Often, in order to make sense of tragedy, we make both their victims—and survivors—into something extraordinary. Here is someone who in their darkest moment wonders if there’s a reason to go on.

Decoding The Da Vinci Code

The book kept me up most of one night, enjoying its plot twists, danger, romance and puzzles, but also laughing at its inaccuracies and fantasy. Brown’s fictional plot claims to uncover “the greatest cover-up in human history,” This alternative “history” has been debunked by more than a dozen authors, and not just Christians, so it’s important to read the categorising word on the book’s back cover, “Fiction.”

Alcohol’s Tragic Family Secrets

Ample evidence alcohol abuse is a significant factor in a chain of events that ultimately manifests as child abuse. Studies have shown domestic violence is much higher in households where the husbands are often drunk, and some statistics suggest a husband’s drinking is a major cause of 27 per cent of marriage break-ups.

When Jesus Came to Lae

Jesus was in Lae, a major city on the north coast of Papua New Guinea, the other day. I read about it in the paper. Here’s how the story goes.

Intelligent Design

Recent months have seen animated and highly polarised debate about Intelligent Design (ID), the so-called, largely Christian creationist response to evolutionary theory, in the press and on television. The primary question has been whether or not ID should be taught in a school’s science curriculum.

Running on Empty

. . . somehow I knew, as never before, that when I stand in judgment before my Lord, He will not ask me whether I attended church. He will not ask me to pass a test on Bible theology, for far too many “Christians” who are theologically solid are spiritually hollow.

9 Ways to Guard Against Divorce

Rightly done, being married will mean a life filled with hope, excitement and happiness shared with a partner. Following are some powerful ways to guard your home against divorce and ensure your relationship remains healthy and vibrant across the years.

Surviving the Tsunami

Indian Ocean communities are well on the way to recovering from the 2004 tsunami.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

There is one God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—a unity of three co-eternal Persons. Although it isn’t intrinsically illogical, this belief has always puzzled humanistic thinkers, a fact that has led to disputes at various times in history.

Dear Dairy: It’s Sabbath

I’ve been reminded that Sabbath was created by God for humankind as an opportunity for us to tune in to Him, and each other, instead of the usual hustle and bustle of life. Sabbath is a reminder of God’s creation of this earth and of His great love for us.

A View Through the Curtain

The time was coming closer and he had mixed feelings of excitement and apprehension. You could call it “holy” fear. In a few moments he would enter the Holy of Holies—the innermost part of the Herod’s Temple.

Kitchen Couch

When space-age kitchens arrived—with their ergonomically designed efficiency, sterile walls and antiseptic tiles—my mother endeavoured to join the 20th century and threw out the couch.