My Year in Books  It’s becoming something of a tradition. Every year in December I share with you some of the books that have shaped, stretched and helped me during the year. Below you will find the list for 2025. These are books that I found stimulating, enjoyable, and helpful, and which I commend to you. I’ve also included a list of some fiction and non-fiction books that I enjoyed.   The Life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones – 1899-1981  by Iain H. Murray  At almost 500 pages of small print, this is not for the faint of heart. But I guarantee it will reward your effort and feed your soul. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the Welsh doctor and preacher, was one of the most influential Christian figures in the 20th century. He served for almost 30 years as the minister of Westminster Chapel in London. I was moved by his example of steadfast faithfulness, fervent prayerfulness, and devotion to the Scriptures. A marvellous book about a magnificent man.  Remember Heaven: Meditations

The greatest hope and prayer that most, if not all, Christian parents have for their child/children is that they would grow up knowing Jesus. To be able to share the same faith is a wonderful blessing for families. To know that you will spend eternity together with God brings such peace and hope. And when this does not take place, it brings much heartache and many tears.  While the salvation and faith of our young people are not things we can 100% guarantee or bring about, there are definitely steps we can take to help them understand who God is and what he has done for them, in the hope that they will respond favourably to him.  We can bring kids to church and have them go to Sunday school. We can put them into a Christian

Holding on in the Dark: Reflections from Psalm 88  I recently spent time studying Psalm 88, rightly called the saddest psalm in the Bible. Yet in its deep darkness, we find incredible truths for us to hold onto, especially during dark times.   I remember listening to an old interview with Corrie ten Boom. She was describing the horror of concentration camp and that despite the hardship they were facing her sister, Betsie, in faith declared “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”  Psalm 88 echoes that kind of faith. Though it is a psalm of unrelieved lament, its first words are full of trust: “Lord, you are the God who saves me.” The psalm reveals that the writer was a man who had suffered from his youth. His circumstances were devastating, isolating, and life-threatening. Yet

Psalm 22 Revisited from Prison  Psalm 22 (NIV)  1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?     Why are you so far from saving me,     so far from my cries of anguish?  This first verse of Psalm 22 is famous for being quoted by Jesus as a cry of suffering from the cross (Matt 27:46 and Mark 15:34), but as I stand inside the Mamertine Prison it’s Paul’s suffering that I’m most acutely aware of. Tradition says that both Peter and Paul were imprisoned in the Mamertine Prison in Rome before they were killed. I’m inside the lower level of the prison and I open my Bible app to 2 Timothy and read of Paul’s time in jail. It’s possible he wrote 2 Timothy within these walls, and if not at Mamertine, then it would have been in a similar place of suffering.  6 But I am a worm and not a man,     scorned by everyone, despised by

Tiny Stars and God’s Presence  Marianka shares with us a gentle reminder to slow down and notice God’s presence. In a world that pushes us to grasp and strive, she reflects on a quiet moment that revealed how often we miss the beauty of simply being with Him. May her story encourage you to pause, look up, and rest in the joy of our glorious King.  After a run one evening 10 years ago, I lay down on the ground to rest. A black sky greeted me. While I was catching my breath, something strange happened. The stars started to fall on me - or so I thought in my exhausted state.   It was really just drops of rain. The tiniest drops I have ever seen. Their gentle caress barely registering - yet I knew the

Are you wondering how you might be able to grow in your faith, while also using your gifts to serve the church in 2026?  Maybe you are a school leaver looking to take a gap year or wanting to explore serving more at church? Maybe you are a university student with some extra time on your hands? Maybe you are someone who works part-time? Maybe you work full-time, but still want to invest more into growing in your faith and serving your church family? Maybe you are retired and want to invest your time in church ministry?  An internship at Oasis Church is a great way for you to grow deeper in your faith, engage in serving on Sundays, and be mentored by an older Christian.  What does an