Morning tea after church is a tradition in most churches, at least morning services. There is something great about the concept, and not just because I love a good cup of coffee. It reflects the reality that the church is not all about the formal service. The church is the people. The informal gathering after …
After hearing a sermon, a common response is to mark it in our heads. We might think that it was enjoyable, or interesting, or faithful to the passage (or not), or useful, or well presented. The temptation is to compare it to the one last week or others we have heard. In a sense, this …
When your world falls apart, where do you look for comfort and advice? The answer will differ depending on who you are. Some just cannot cope and don’t look anywhere. Some will seek the advice of friends, look to experts in the field, read self-help books, or even watch daytime television or listen to talk-back …
Most Christians are convinced that we live in a world that needs to hear about Jesus. Specifically, most are convinced that those who don’t trust in Jesus at the moment need someone to tell them about Jesus. After all, the Biblical logic is pretty clear: 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; …
Factfulness, a recently published book by Swedish international health expert Hans Rosling, is fascinating. It is a book that challenges the way that we see the world. And for the better. This is not a Christian book, but it is a book that all thoughtful Christians could benefit from. And it is entertaining to read …
We are encouraged to reach our potential, to be what we want to be, to make it in life. Our picture of the perfect life before us often includes comfort, a family situation we’re happy with, a nice place to live and enough money to do what we want to do. Ideally, we want to …
When was the last time you read a book? Yes, a book. Not a magazine or newspaper, not a social media post, not the latest news headlines, but a book. I fear that for many, especially in Perth, the answer tends to be “I can’t remember.” Social media has become where many spend the time …
Every now and again, a newspaper will remind us that Australians are very poor at saving. Compared to the rest of the world, Australians tend to spend what they earn, with very little set apart for later. Younger people, in particular, don’t want to invest money for the future but would prefer to make the …
Rest is a wonderful gift from God, as the previous blog post explained. God has been so gracious to his people to set up our lives with a rhythm that includes rest as well as work. It is a reminder of his goodness and our limitations and helps prevent us relying on ourselves too heavily. …
Holiday time for most people in Perth has now come to an end, with school officially starting this week. I have also had the privilege to have a holiday for a couple of weeks. It is relaxing to break the normal routine, to be away from responsibilities and have a mental rest. God set up …