QUOTES OF THE WEEK
What a difference a day makes... The page had turned. The celebration had abruptly ended.
Ps Kong Hee on the police raid which took place only a day after the church had concluded an international conference of more than 25,000 participants <ST>
Shallower though its pockets may be, the group still poses a threat: A small sum spent cleverly on the right explosive in the right place can do a lot of damage.
Nathan Vardi, Is al Qaeda Bankrupt? Forbes Asia March 2010
Pressure is building against Christians in Britain. No politician is expressing concern that Britain should remain a Christian country. That is a scandal and a disgrace to our history. Christianity, has given so much to our country, yet is being sidelined as though it is a stranger to our nation. We must stand up against the marginalizing of faith. We must constantly remind society of it's Christian roots and heritage.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey on how Christianity is being bullied out of Britain's public life in the name of political correctness <APN -Daily News>
When Austrian tycoon, Karl Rabeder, went on a five-star holiday with his wife to Hawaii, it was there that he realized that despite spending all that money, they hadn't really met a single real person.
The staff played the role of being friendly and the guests played the role of being important and nobody was real. For a long time I believed that more wealth and luxury automatically meant more happiness, money is counterproductive – it prevents happiness to come. (Today I felt) free, the opposite of heavy.
 Why I'm giving away my fortune to a microcredit charity to help the poor. Telegraph Group, Feb 10, 2010

Our marriage was strong. I know Oprah and others took the approach that he needed to accept that this was his identity. Honestly, our identities are made up by what we believe and how we choose to live our lives.
Gayle Haggard responding to the ChristianityToday query regarding Ted Haggard's same-sex inclination
I was in a big accident. Don't be upset at God. He always provides for his children, even in hard times,"I'm still praying that God will get me out, but He may not. But He will always take care of you.
Dam Woolley, Haiti earthquake survivor before been rescued (The Age)
Martin Luther had to say something, or they were going to keep selling indulgences. Now we have that going on in our midst. If someone says, 'Send your $100 to be saved,' that is selling indulgences, and there are people doing that on . . . We need a Holy Ghost housecleaning.
J. Lee Grady, Charisma Editor
The complexity built up in layers by past policies absorbs vast amounts of money and human effort in crisis management but does little to improve the physical and spiritual wellbeing of indigenous West Australians.
Indigenous Implementation Board, headed by former governor Lt-Gen. John Sanderson. (The West Australian, September 18, 2009)
Photo: Broome not Boom (IP)
Corazon (Cory) Aquino was convinced that her presidency (of Philiippines) was divinely inspired, even as her political foes mocked her piety. "If the country needs me," she said, "God will spare me." And miracle of miracles, she proved God right and her critics wrong.
Time August 17, 2009, Tribute to Aquino on her death on August 1, 2009
Too many churches live their faith inside their walls, when the church needs to be here in the street, we're out stealing souls from the Devil.
Evangelist Obeda, a former street kid in Havana, Cuba
A church that does not seek the lost, is lost itself.
Reinhard Bonnke, interviewed by historymakersradio
Biologicaly 18 to 25 years old - your body is in peak physical condition, you're fit, you're young, you're well - is a good time to have a baby. What we want to do is to dispel the myth that there will always be time and it will just fall into place, but biology is a cruel mistress.
Dr Gino Pecoraro, RANZCOG. The West Australian, June 16, 2009

The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was "defeated not by Christians or Muslims, but by secular Hindus."
John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council (AICC) commenting on the recent Indian election which saw the Hindu radical leaning BJP suffered a significant drop in support. Over 80 percent of the more than 1 billion people in India are Hindu. Christians form around 2.3 percent of the population, and Muslims about 14 percent. Charismamag May 22, 2009
Calvin has been seen as an influence in the rise of modern education, modern science, capitalism, and democracy. All of these developments in the history of the West would probably have occurred if Calvin had never lived, but he probably helped the development occur somewhat more quickly.
Calvin's 500th Birthday book review by Christianity Today May 19, 2009
Aa Catholic friend of mine asked why the Pope had spoken out so boldly on the AIDS problem. It seemed to this liberal Catholic that the Pope had once again stuck his nose where it did not belong. Pope Benedict XVI made the following statement in Yaounde, Cameroon, "You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms ...On the contrary, it increases the problem."
As far as I can tell, contrary to my friend's opinion, the Pope was right this time. In fact, his statement was not just a doctrinal position on sexuality; it was also a practical observation about a dreaded disease that the Roman Catholic Church has invested billions of dollars to fight around the world. I agree with the Pope that a responsible and moral attitude toward sex would help fight the disease. Harry R. Jackson CharismaNews Mar25, 2009
In our continuing catechesis on St Paul, we now consider his teaching on justificaiton. Paul's experience of the Risen Lord on the road to Damascus led him to see that it is only by faith in Christ, and not by any merit of our own, that we are made righteous before God. Our justification in Christ is thus God's gracious gift, revealed in the mystery of the Cross. Christ died in order to become our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption and we in turn, justified by faith, have become in him the very righteousness of God. In the light of the Cross and its gifts of reconciliation and new life in the Spirit, Paul rejected a righteousness base on the Law and its works. Pope Benedict XVI, January 22, 2009
read also Chuck Colson commentaries
There is no law in the land where I live, compelling me to [be a Christian]. But in your land, if I chose to disbelieve [Islam], I have to stand before a tribunal of justices and explain it.
Ravi Zacharias, Christian Worldview with The Washington Times, Dec 8, 2008

At the outset I think it’s worth reflecting on the very good advice Jesus gave to politicians in the Sermon on the Mount, it’s very appropriate for an occasion like this: “Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention, otherwise you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven.” And Jesus gave even better counsel for the public that politicians see to represent and persuade to their point of view. “Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits.”
Opposition Leader the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP speaking at ACL's National Conference Nov 8, 2008

The thing is, I need you fellas to spread the word among your mates, you’re not prime examples because you’re good kids and you want to work. You’ve got to tell those kids on welfare and whose parents are on welfare that it’s bullshit.
FMG's Andrew Forrest as he pledges 50,000 jobs for indigenous Australians in ‘welfare not an option’ plan Oct 31, 2008


Sep 10 Andrew Forrest's How I came to see the Light. One of Australia's wealthiest men was so influenced by the change in his then fiancee, his wife Nicola's new found faith, that he too wanted the same and they got hitched the same year reported Teen Challenge in their Sep-Oct 08 newsletter. "That was the turning point when I knew that the issues were resolved, my heart was healed and I ws ready to move on," says Nicola after receiving prayer from a visiting minister.

They can kill my body but they can't kill my soul.
Mosab Hassan Yousef
responding to Fox News Jonathan Hunt's question about the threat to kill Mosab now that he had converted to Christianity and denouncing Hamas. Sep 9, 2008
There is irony in Solzhenitsyn's American reception. We praised him for crippling the Kremlin by the power of his courageous truth telling. But we disapproved when he spoke his mind about American decadence.
Christianity Today Aug 13, 2008 on Solzhenitsyn's death
I ask myself, could anyone standing face to face with people who actually do suffer violence and sexual exploitation explain that these tragedies, portrayed in virtual form, are considered merely entertainment? Do not be fooled by those who see you as just another consumer in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the god, novelty usurps beauty and subjective experience displaces truth. Christ offers more. Indeed, he offers everything.
Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day Jul 17, 2008
You young people have in a special way the task of witnessing today to the faith; the commitment to bring the Gospel of Christ into the third Christian Millennium, to build a new civilization – Pope John Paul II, intro to xt3.com
Morality was the glue that binds society together. There has been nothing to replace it and therefore there has been a vacuum in the spiritual and moral formation of many young people.
Archbishop Hickey declining role of religion to growing social evils (The West, June 20, 2008)
Public health campaigns can do much to educate people about what are the real things that make people happy and live longer. And it is not making more money.
Instead of spending so many hours at work, you are better off engaging in what we call inconspicuous consumption — the kind of consumption that is unlike driving a Porsche. The more hours you spend with your family and communities, the more likely you are to be happy and content and it is that kind of consumption we need to teach people to value more.
Professor Ichiro Kawachi, visiting Harvard Universityexpert on health (The West, June 18, 2008)

I once accepted a speaking engagement among Christians involved in Twelve Step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. As I talked with the attendees and pondered what to say, I finally decided on the ironic title, "Why I Wish I Was an Alcoholic." It occurred to me that what recovering alcoholics confess every day—personal failure, and the daily need for grace and help from friends and a Higher Power—represent high hurdles for those of us who take pride in our independence and self-sufficiency.
Philip Yancey, Christianity Today. May 28, 2008

Christianity is a foreign religion imposed on China? When Buddha entered China, Buddha rode on a white elephant, but Jesus Christ entered China riding on cannon shells. If you want to enter a country, then at the same time you attack that country, certainly you will not be welcome. [But] Mr. Palau landed in China by a Boeing 777 rather than by an aircraft carrier.
Zhao Qizheng, Minister of the State Council Information Office of China. Christianity Today. May 23, 2008



Mass is not a drive-through, fast-food event. The adopted formula of come in late and leave early, or come in early and leave early is neither the desired attitude nor praxis to have in one’s mind and heart when it concerns our Lord’s invitation to partake in His most sacred and intimate meal.
Father Separovich, Rockingham Parish (source: TheWest) May 9, 2008


I don't want to wake up one morning in the year 2020 with the regret of not having acted when I had the chance.
PM Rudd addressing the 2020 summit April 20, 2008