blog
My Year in Books
My Year in Books I listened to a sermon recently that bemoaned the decline of reading amongst not simply the modern person, but the modern Christian. The speaker suggested that our inability to think critically is linked to the declining rates of reading amongst almost all age groups and education levels. As Christians, we simply cannot get by without reading. After all, God has supremely revealed himself to us in his Son, the Lord Jesus (Heb. 1:1-2), whom we find in the pages of the Bible (Jn. 5:39-40). If you are not already, can I implore you to read the Bible. Perhaps start with Genesis or the Gospel of John. Can I also encourage you to read good works of theology and Christian living. Can I encourage you to
Advent: What, Why, & How?
Advent: What, Why, & How? Advent is one of those terms that is often heard thrown around towards the end of the year around late November and into December. Perhaps you have heard of it before? Perhaps you have heard of Advent Calendars? Maybe you have even seen or used one! I am always intrigued by the variety of Advent Calendars out there, and the anticipation as to what might be revealed each day is something I find fascinating. However, what exactly is Advent? Why is it part of the church calendar? And how do we celebrate it? What is Advent? The word “advent” is defined as “the arrival of a notable person or thing”. For Christians, Advent is the four-week period leading up to Christmas Day during which
Do you Trust Enough to have Joy?
Do you Trust Enough to have Joy? I feel like I’ve gone through a number of trials in the last couple of years. I became deathly ill and almost died… and after planning to spend a year in Ukraine with my missionary parents to recover from the illness, God allowed a war to break out 2 months after we moved to Ukraine. We were not able to stay in Ukraine, and had to quickly make alternative arrangements. We ended up bouncing around Europe and South Africa for a couple of months before eventually returning to Australia, where we faced a new problem. We had come back to a city in the middle of a rental crisis, and at the time, my body was still too weak to work. One
Finding Peace Amidst the Chaos
Finding Peace Amidst the Chaos With only two months remaining until Christmas and New Year's, the world around us seems to be moving at an ever-increasing pace. The Christmas season is often associated with joy, celebration, and the birth of Jesus, but it can also bring with it a whirlwind of activities, shopping, and social obligations. Amid the frenzy, it's crucial for us to take a step back, slow down, and focus on what truly matters. Embrace the Advent Season As we approach the Advent season, a time of anticipation and preparation, it's an excellent opportunity for us to embrace the spirit of slowing down. Advent, derived from the Latin word 'adventus,' meaning 'coming,' is not just about counting down the days until Christmas but it’s about preparing our
How Big is Your God?
How Big is Your God? How big is your God? Do you feel like you can you comprehend him fully? Does he fit inside your neat little “box?” Evylyn Underhill once said, "If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshipped." I’d like to confess something. There are aspects of God that are mysterious to me. I do not fully understand the Trinity. I sort of get it and I can sort of describe it, but I struggle to fully comprehend the doctrine of the Trinity in all its glory. I also struggle to understand exactly how God’s sovereignty and human responsibility coexist in the same world. Why does God, who is the very definition of love, not put an immediate
How to Pray When There Are No Words
How to Pray When There Are No Words How do you pray for situations that are almost too horrific to comprehend? The devastation of senseless terrorist attacks. Children being sold into slavery. Widows and orphans living with little or no hope. Our hearts ache. The burden (rightly) sits heavily on us. We cry out to God…but sometimes, we can’t find the words to pray. When we’re lost for words to pray, a wonderful ‘go to’ is the Bible. Reading aloud Psalms is a wonderful way to align our thoughts with God’s. Recently, I came across an article1 that spoke of ‘Imprecatory Psalms’. Do you know what they are? I didn’t until this week. In the Bible you will come across imprecatory Psalms. For example, David says in Psalm
Trying to Be Like God
Trying to Be Like God Trying to stay in control. Trying to know everything. Trying to be at every event. Trying to… be like God. Since Genesis 3, we’ve fallen time and time again for the false promise that we can be like God (Genesis 3:5). This came home to me recently at a conference I attended. A Pastor by the name of Zack Eswine shared how we struggle to accept the boundaries God has given us. You see, we want to be able to do everything! In theology, we call that ‘omnipotence’. Only God is able to do anything he pleases. We overbook our calendars, wanting to be everywhere at all times. In theology, that’s called ‘omnipresence’. Only God can be in all places at all times. We want to know
What Will it Take to Reach Australia?
What Will it Take to Reach Australia? Australia is a big place. If you don’t think so, you’ve obviously never travelled from one end of the continent to the other! Australia is the world’s largest island and its sixth largest country (after Russia, Canada, China, the USA, and Brazil). Australia is also home to more than 26 million people. 26,505,980 people to be (somewhat) precise (according to Worldometer). 26+ million people all made in God’s image and all in need of God’s grace and mercy. Just like the size of our nation, the spiritual need of our country is great. According to social researcher Mark McCrindle, the last 40 years in Australia has seen a significant shift away from Christianity. In the 1981 census, three in four Australians (76%)
