It was 1986, and Dave Dobbyns "Slice of Heaven" was booming out at the disco night of our youth camp. Before we knew it, the song had become the de facto theme for our weekend away.

Alcohol was and remains the Shires and the nations number one problem. Travel through the Shire on a Friday or Saturday night and you will see the behaviour. This is a story which doesnt make the headlines. Its what the Cronulla Chamber of Commerce speaks about in hushed tones until their shopfronts are damaged.

Hardliners. That is the public image of Sydney Anglicans on gender issues. But theres a new wave of American Christian critics who would say we are wimps. They have invented a new term of abuse: 'soft patriarchy. It is thrown at evangelicals who have male headship in their theology but are too equal (for the critics) in the way family life is lived.

War orphans are an increasing phenomena emerging from international conflicts. Their plight is poignantly revealed in the Plan ad thats been showing on TV screens of late. We see an African boy with an adult, and the voiceover says: 'Since he was found beside the body of his dead mother he hasnt said a word. It is a stark reminder of children who have come out of horrific experiences to face life alone.

In his latest book John Dickson says Jesus miracles are grounded in history.

Two former Sudanese refugees head a record list of Sydney Anglicans who will be trooping into St Andrews Cathedral this weekend to have their call to full time ministry confirmed by Archbishop Peter Jensen.

Miranda Lanham wasnt letting Daddy on the aircraft without one last hug, emphasising her familys hopes: study hard, but stay safe!

MA Theology students Antony Barraclough and Dave Lanham are heading for Israel under the tutelage of author and historian the Rev Dr Paul Barnett - and will they let a little thing like political unrest get in their way? Not likely...