I keep running into people who say they enjoy this weekly round up of news and the breaking news links on sydneyanglicans.net. I'd like to think its the quality but I think it's also the convenience.

As a society we are staggeringly time-poor. One of the reasons the tablet computer has taken off is because we can cram in extra reading or net surfing on the bus, train or wherever. Many people use this column as a way of catching up on what they need to know in one quick hit. One of the most interesting links in the round up this week bears out just how time poor our society really is.

It appeared in the Herald Sun and claims that the nine-to-five working week is becoming less common, with many people forced to work longer hours during the week and at weekends. In fact about 30 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women are at work at 7am, and one in six men and one in seven women work till 7pm. This is important for us to grasp as our churches seek to connect to the rush and harried society around them. You can see full research at this link. It's worth taking the time to read it!

Also this week, we posted many links about the Tribute Service at Quakers Hill after the nursing home fire. Many media outlets were confused about what was an inter-denominational service and called it a multi-faith service, but generally the coverage was good. See this ABC story for example. Quaker's Hill Anglican did a great job in difficult circumstances, especially Rev Geoff Bates who was on every major TV and radio station, including this appearance on Sunrise.

For those tempted to believe the media hype around gay marriage, a survey from the Ambrose Centre will give pause for thought. So much so that The Australian came out in its editorial on Friday, warning that "the ALP has nothing to gain by investing its scarce political capital in same-sex marriage given the sharp community divisions over what most voters regard as a low-order issue." (as these prominent Australians have said)

Other links to note this week, trouble on the subcontinent - Jesus Christ banned in text messages in Pakistan and false claims that a pastor in India state “lured” Muslims to Christianity by offering money has led to the arrest of a pastor. Also to read, if you have time, Religion and ethics may be in the new national curriculum and in England, the latest evidence that Christians are being marginalised.

(Feature photo: aussiegall)