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Spiritual Health Check
Spiritual Health Check Check-ups are a regular part of our lives. We have regular check-ups of our bodies, regular servicing of our cars, even annual performance reviews at work. But what about our souls? When was the last time you conducted a spiritual check-up? 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, ‘Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.’ Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:10, ‘Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.’ It is healthy and good for us to consider the question, ‘How am I going in my faith? Am I growing? Have I stagnated spiritually?’ And there is perhaps no better time to consider this question than at the start of a new year. I would encourage you to take
Nourishing Minds: A Podcast Guide for Thoughtful Listening
Nourishing Minds: A Podcast Guide for Thoughtful Listening Have you ever heard the age-old saying: “You are what you eat”? I remember my Mum invoking this wisdom when faced with our abandoned, cold vegetables at the dinner table. It was a simple lesson, teaching us that failing to eat the nutritious choices would leave us lacking in energy and strength. It’s a basic principle – what we consume impacts our physical well-being. What about our minds? Just as the food we eat nourishes our bodies, what we listen to shapes our minds. Philippians 4:8 says to fill our minds with things that are pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. This includes the music we listen to, the shows we watch, and yes, today more than ever, the podcasts we
How Psalm 46 Helped Me to Face Chemotherapy
How Psalm 46 Helped Me to Face Chemotherapy Selina Fyfe My stomach churns and clenches, my heart races and I take deep breaths, trying to stay calm. The only way to stop cancer from killing me is to go through some of the hardest treatments available. Fear assaults me each day as I get ready for round after round of chemotherapy, for scans and tests, for surgeries and blood transfusions. To live, I must almost die. It takes a great deal of courage to get ready and face the treatment that I know will cause agonising pain, that knocks my blood cells and bone marrow so hard I struggle to breathe, that makes my heart race, my hair fall out and my nails lift. The chemotherapy kills the cancer
Christmas and the Humility of God
Christmas and the Humility of God Maybe I shouldn’t admit this publicly, but I’ve had my Christmas Tree up since October… don’t judge me. Our family loves the festivity and joy that surrounds the Christmas season. For many Aussies, Christmas is a busy time full of end-of-year celebrations, presents, barbecues and bellyaches. Although I get my fair share of bellyaches over Christmas, as a Christian, the central reason for the season is Christ. In fact, many Christians have begun observing advent in order to slow down and reflect on Jesus’ arrival (if you don’t know what ‘advent’ is, read Stephen’s article from two weeks ago [link]). So, with that in mind, why don’t we take this opportunity on December 1st to do that together? What do you think about
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
