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Well, I have proven to myself already that I shouldn’t try to cultivate facial hair - I wasn’t made for it.  What I have managed to throw out is a messy bunch of random bristles. 

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I just got an email from CNN breaking news.  Before I go on - I know what some would be thinking - “you still get news via email - that’s so 2005″.  I know, I know, but lets look at the point in hand.

The email’s announcing that Saddam is to be sentenced to death by hanging for crimes against humanity. It’s funny (but not really) after all the courthouse antics, I guess I never expected these trials to end.  I must say, I am a little shocked.

What I will be watching closely over the next few days is the response of various groups around the world to this news.  Will those who so strongly oppose the death sentence be so vocal now?  Does he deserve death?  Do any of us have the right to deal such a punishment - to throw the first stone?  Can all those lives - the lives of the victims of the horrors that Saddam dished out - be made any more valuable by this act of revenge?

I doubt we’ll see too many protests against this death sentence.  But could we possibly bring ourselves to even just pray for the life of Saddam Hussein?

A good friend of mine sent out a well meaning email about Steve Irwin being saved just before he was killed by a stingray barb to the heart.  He is a pastor, you see, and thought it important that we let our congregations know of this earth shattering news.

It took only a few minutes for him to be assured by one of his recipients that the whole thing was untrue, and that it was a rumour spreading like wildfire.  The particular recipient had connections to the church that Steve was supposedly saved at.  It was clear that although Terry, the Croc Hunter’s wife attended the church occasionally (being the good American church-goer), Steve himself had never attended.  My friend promptly sent a humble note of withdrawal.

This lead me to thinking about why we get so excited about ‘celebrity salvations’ (good name for a tv show, don’t you think - someone phone TBN).  I had thought about it a little - but I was pipped at the post

During Movember (the month formerly known as November) I’ll be growin a moustache. That’s right I’m bringing the Mo back because I care about changing the state of men’s health.

Male health is a major issue, did you know:

1. Men are far less healthy than women. The average life expectancy of males is 6 years less than females.
2. Every year in Australia 2,700 men die of prostate cancer – more than the number of women who die from breast cancer.
3. Depression affects 1 in 6 men…Most don’t seek help. Untreated depression is a leading risk factor for suicide. Rates of suicide are more than double the national road toll.

Help me change the face of men’s health by sponsoring my mo.

Please go to http://www.movember.com/au/sponsor/?action=sponsorlink&rego=30984, enter my Rego number which is 30984 and your credit card details. All donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

The money raised by Movember will be used to change the face of men’s health by creating awareness and funding research into prostate cancer and male depression.

To keep up with progress on the Mo, please see the movember topicÂ