au
NGO's – where does the money go? Transparency in aid organisations

NGO's – where does the money go? Transparency in aid organisations

I give money to an organisation, but all I hear are rumours that the money never gets there, or it\'s all spent on administration or given to big bosses who drive expensive cars. How do I know that my money is getting to where I want to it go? To the disadvantaged. To those who are living in extreme poverty. To those who have lost hope and health. .

  • Cyber Bullying: From Charlotte Dawson to the School Yard

    Technology, for all its benefits, also has its downsides; faceless bullying being one of them. Trolling celebrities on Social Media such as Twitter or Facebook has almost become a sport, with everyone from the Bieber through to our own Aussie TV presenter Charlotte Dawson being targeted, and as Charlotte found, cyber bullying can have drastic consequences on a target\'s emotional state.

  • Don't leave with unfinished business

    What is your mission? What do you feel God is calling you to achieve, to have a go at? Everyone is called to do something. Some people have missions that call them overseas; some have missions a lot closer to home. Whatever our mission is, whatever we are called to do, and God is calling us to see it through. No matter how great we start the mission, the end is where God can use so much more.

  • Outside the Box: Creativity in ministry

    "The professionalism of ministry" has arrived. Mirroring the structure of the corporate world, we often construct complex ministry categories based on rigid rules, criterion and check-lists. One downside of specialisation, despite its perceived efficiency, is that it tends to put people into boxes, often limiting our creativity to the perimeter of the box.

  • He lifted up our car!

    For Father\'s Day this year, my husband (along with most other fathers in our circle of friends) received the Avengers movie, much to the excitement of our children. Super heroes are big in our house, with costumes galore and heroic acts often being performed on our deck. It reminded me of a conversation between two of my children a few years ago:

  • Q&Anger

    You can't say that Australia isn't a democracy. This is a fact I was reminded of recently with the local government elections. I spent my Saturday running between different polling stations until arriving at one that was close enough to my house for my name to be on their roll – and all to avoid a $55 fine. I was 'financially encouraged' to participate in the process and ensure my voice was heard.

  • Saying G'day to the Angels

    My theology lecturer stood in front of us looking up at the roof for an immeasurable amount of time. The students and I wondered if he was okay (I'll just say he was definitely not young so we thought maybe he was having a heart attack). Then, one of the students asked if the lecturer needed anything. No, our lecturer did not need anything. And so we waited.

  • International Aid in Cynical Times - ARPA Conference, New Zealand 2012 – Hothouse speaker Seth Le Leu

    If you can\'t feed them don\'t breed them! If we send money overseas, they\'ll just come back with guns and kill us! I don\'t know that my money actually gets where it\'s supposed to be going. What about our own backyard?

  • Don't be a stumbling block to others

    There are many things that the sacrifice of Christ has brought us, and one of the great things of being Christian is the freedom that we have. There will always be disagreement however about what this freedom entails, and how far it extends. It is common for Christians to heatedly debate with each other matters that do not concern salvation such as climate change, evolution, baptism, women in pastoral roles and a plethora of other issues.

  • Is speeding sin?

    Whatever your habits behind the wheel I encourage you to investigate this topic with me. Please prayerfully consider the biblical conclusions behind this question because in my view, it impacts our relationship with God.

  • Birthdays; luckily they come once a year

    Being a twin is both an advantage and a disadvantage; it is terrific fun for most of the time and always gets more significance closer to your birthday. Everyone at school, and I mean everyone knew it was your birthday due to the fact of being twins.

  • The Big G: Seeking God's Guidance!

    Over the last few weeks I have been watching The Big C, a quirky television series that follows several slightly bizarre characters in a small Minnesotan town in America. The show revolves around Cathy, a suburban wife and mother, who is diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. In the first few episodes, after realising that she is terminally ill, Cathy begins to live erratically (or so her husband and son claim).