The hunger of the Christian reading public for books on Islam seems almost insatiable, which is thoroughly understandable. There is no issue of more contemporary concern than militant Islam. Every one, from government leaders to ordinary people in the street, is anxious to understand the true character of Islam. No question is more pressing than, to what extent is the theology, and consequent practice, of those Muslims who commit acts of violence an expression of true Islam, or to what extent is it a nefarious aberration?

Every couple of years an academic or pseudoacademic text is published which alleges to have discovered a new insight that will undermine the entire Christian faith. Some are attempts to reinvent Jesus while others are simply rehashing old theories and heresies. Certain to be given the Hollywood treatment, The Da Vinci Code capitalises on the marketability of reimagining Jesus by immersing its theories into a Ludlum-style novel.

Archbishop Peter Carnley says John Woodhouse made ‘quite serious mistakes' in his review of the Primate's latest book, Reflections in Glass.

One night on a recent camping trip with a mate, I found myself lying in a clearing of soft short grass staring up at the stars. or the briefest of seconds, even though my puny brain couldn't quite grasp the enormity of it, I got a perspective of the bigness – the absolute mind-boggling vastness – of space. No matter which way you look at it, space is really, really big.

I am one of those happy people who are enjoying Southern Cross's recent attention on the Diocesan Mission. It has been encouraging to read of people across the Diocese who are engaging their neighbours with the gospel in love. But, in the process, I keep feeling unsettled by the way some of my brothers and sisters are speaking about ‘church'.

Under Anglican polity you cannot choose your own bishop. Of course we choose ours when Synod elects our archbishop, but when he is in place he is the diocesan of this diocese, Sydney, and all Anglicans in the diocese come under his jurisdiction and pastoral care. That is the pattern all over the Anglican Communion.

The people of the parish of Woodville Road have been without a rector a rector since September 2002. Eighteen months of a leadership void can wreak havoc on a parish, but this has been far from the case at the thriving church in Sydney's west.

Wayne Billington has been a victim of burnout. A few years ago while working in a high pressure role as a financial analyst in the CBD, Wayne decided to give more time to help the ministry at St Paul's, Castle Hill.