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We Lack No Good Thing
God spoke to me very clearly recently. It was a Fatherly word, a necessary rebuke, a loving reminder. I was day two into my annual summer holiday and I was feeling sorry for myself. I was unhappy because a foot injury was keeping me from doing of my favourite pastimes: running. I wouldn’t be able to run the usual tracks I do when I’m away. I wouldn’t be able to run with my sisters each morning. I wouldn’t be able to “blah, blah, blah”, the thoughts continued. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to be on holidays with my family and spend time away from the business of normal life. But in my heart of hearts, I was down in the dumps. The second morning of the holiday
Jesse’s Reflections on His Year at Oasis
It’s been a great joy and privilege to serve as Ministry Apprentice at Oasis Church for the last 12 months. I’ve been shaped in many profound ways and I have learned many valuable lessons. As I draw closer to the end of my time at Oasis, I wanted to share some of those lessons with you. Before I do, let me tell you how I ended up here at Oasis. Through my involvement in our denomination over the last few years, I got to know both Ben and Adam. Each time I engaged with them I was impressed with their love for the Lord, and their preparedness for ministry. I was also blown away by the spiritual growth that had been occuring in the life of a good friend
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
