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

Do Denominations Matter? Oasis Church belongs to the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, or the CRCA for short. We are part of a family of 55 churches located right across Australia. Recently, our staff team attended the CRCA Gospel Workers Conference on the Northern Beaches of NSW. It was a wonderful time of rest, refreshment, and encouragement from the Scriptures and from other gospel workers. As part of the conference, I was asked to give a talk on the importance of belonging to a denomination (like the CRCA). The talk was titled ‘Why denomination matters’. You might wonder about that very question: Why do denominations matter? Are they really that important? Isn’t it easier to just do our own thing as a local church? After all, working with other

Christmas is less than 3 months away. However, before all the Christmas decorations fully hit the shelves, there are a whole bunch of other decorations that are currently out. Yes, Halloween decorations. It’s THAT time of year again, and as Christians, the conversations start up around how we should navigate Halloween.   Should kids participate? Should adults participate? What is it even about?  There is wisdom in being informed before making a decision as to how to engage.  Here is a list of articles/podcasts that can help inform your decision-making:  Halloween – A ‘Treat’ of an Opportunity  What Christians Should Know About Halloween  Not the Halloween You Remember  Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?  Christians, This Is Our Night  Flight or Fright? How To Redeem Halloween  Whatever you decide to do, may

All Creatures, Praise the Lord  I’ve just watched the sunrise at the beach and am once again in awe of God’s creation. As the Psalm says, “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). Psalm 148:3 calls, “Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.” Over and over again, the Psalms invite creation itself to worship the LORD. But what does that actually mean?  We sometimes declare these same words in the songs we sing. All Creatures of Our God and King is based on Psalm 148. In it we join with creation in praise:  All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia, alleluia! Thou burning sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam, O

A Place of Safety, Truth and Healing  This coming Sunday, as part of the National Child Protection Week (8–13 September), we will join with other CRCA churches across Australia to observe ‘Abuse Awareness Sunday’. This is a dedicated opportunity for us to stand with survivors, raise awareness, and equip our church to be a place of safety, truth and healing. Abuse is a painful and difficult topic, but as God’s people we want to speak into it with love, truth, and sensitivity.  As followers of Christ, we are called to be a light in the darkness and a refuge for the vulnerable. Psalm 34:18 says, ‘The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in sprit.’ God cares deeply for those who are mistreated,