In the news you might’ve missed…

Eurovision’s bearded lady and the ever expanding logic of inclusivity
Peter Ould writes in response to the drag queen winner of the Eurovision song contest, Conchita Wurst. “Are we truly creating a more open and accepting society, or are we replacing one normativity (a normativity that seeks to govern society by certain expectations and rules) with another? Is this new normativity of “inclusion” really any better than the paradigm it replaces?” Read the full story here.

Oldies do more evangelism
Research reveals so-called ‘Millennial’ Christians (those born between 1980 and early 2000s) are more likely to feel comfortable sharing Christ with others, but a decidedly lower percentage actually do it, writes Christian author Ed Stetzer in Christianity Today. Interestingly, Stetzer’s data shows that older people share their faith more frequently than do younger people, and Millennials are not a stand out generation in evangelism.

Chaplaincy funding cuts through budget blues
Arguably one of the only pieces of good news in the gloomy federal budget this week came in the form of a $245 million boost to the funding of school chaplains. Yet, considering the huge chunk of education spending the federal government wants to take from the states’ coffers, it is no wonder education groups are angry that chaplains are getting more money, not less. The Australian Education Union president Angelo Gavrielatos told Fairfax Media that the money for chaplains should be redirected: “We have a situation where there are 100,000 students with disabilities not receiving the disability funding they need. There is more being spent on school chaplains than there is in dealing with the needs of students with disabilities … surely that is a higher priority?”

Territorians and WA folks most charitable in Australia
While the aid budget has been cut and welfare benefits have been tightened, the good news is Australians are giving more to charity than ever before. According to the NAB Charitable Giving Index, giving grew by eight per cent in the year to February, with the average annual donation size for all charities increasing by $13 to $315 per donor over 12 months. Interestingly, the biggest donors were located in the ACT and WA.

Stop trying to fix people
Ever caught yourself trying to “fix” someone who was making destructive decisions or moving away from God? This article is a good slap around the head for any of us caught in this pattern of behaviour. “Don’t get me wrong: self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, and we are called to make wise, God-honoring choices. But when we try to manage others’ behavior? That leads to all sorts of heartache and trouble.” Read the rest here.