Three of my books are now available as eBooks via WORD bookstore here in Australia: Transforming Your Church (Revised Edition), Prison Break and Pass the Baton (2nd Edition). Click here for details and ordering information. Oh, the wonders of modern technology.
GROW – Understanding Stages of Faith
This year as a church community we have sensed a need to go deeper and to focus more on our relationship with Jesus and our life as disciples. Our FOCUS for 2011 has been simply: Following Jesus. So far, we have looked at four aspects of following Jesus: SURRENDER, GO, LOVE and DISCOVER. This weekend we … Continue reading GROW – Understanding Stages of Faith
The Starfish Story – Making a Difference
Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like … Continue reading The Starfish Story – Making a Difference
Justice Trumps Spices (Pt.3)
Practicing Justice Let's take this first important matter that Jesus mentions: justice. How can we move from believing in justice to actually living it out in practice? It requires as to ACT and that involves three things: Awareness - Ignorance is not bliss. Sticking our head in the sand until the storm blows over is bot … Continue reading Justice Trumps Spices (Pt.3)
Justice Trumps Spices (Pt.2)
Weightier Matters In the Pentateuch, there was as many as 613 different laws or commandments that God’s people were meant to keep - 248 affirmative commands and 365 negative commands. Debates and discussions often occurred as to which were the more important ones. One teacher of the law even asked Jesus this question: “What is … Continue reading Justice Trumps Spices (Pt.2)
Justice Trumps Spices (Pt.1)
In Matthew 23, we have a record of Jesus’ strong condemnation of the religious leaders of his day, who had not led the people faithfully and who had become hypocritical and legalistic. Here is one of the seven “woe’s” he gave them: “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For … Continue reading Justice Trumps Spices (Pt.1)
Recycling Hotel Soap to Save Lives
Derreck Kayongo, from Uganda, is one of this year's Top 10 CNN Heroes nominees. Click here to read his amazing story. Through simple presence of mind, Derreck had an idea to collect used hotel soap, that usually ends up as landfill, and recycle it for use in impoverished nations such as Haiti, Uganda, Kenya and … Continue reading Recycling Hotel Soap to Save Lives
Abolitionist Sunday
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery will be recognised by many churches around the country by holding an Abolitionist Sunday on November 20th this year. Although the fight to end slavery is a year round activity, Abolitionist Sunday provides an annual focus for churches to unite in action against this injustice. Tim Costello … Continue reading Abolitionist Sunday
Tom Wright for Everyone
Tom Wright (also known as N.T. Wright) has achieved global recognition as a biblical theologian through his academic and popular publications. He is a leading New testament scholar and former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England. His most academic work is his Christian Origins and the Questions of God series, of which three … Continue reading Tom Wright for Everyone
You Lost Me – Latest Church Research from Barna Group
People are calling it "The Great Departure" - Christian young people leaving the church. Close to 60 percent of young people who went to church as teens drop out after high school. Now the bestselling author of unChristian trains his researcher's eye on these young believers. Where David Kinnaman's first book unChristian showed the world what outsiders aged 16-29 … Continue reading You Lost Me – Latest Church Research from Barna Group
Evaluating Vitamins and Supplements
Ok, so how many vitamins and/or supplements do you take each day? Personally, I take a few tablets with my breakfast each morning - fish oil, vitamin D, and a men's multi-vitamin. The fish oil (Omega 3) helps to keep my cholesterol down a bit and the Vitamin D gives me a little extra energy, … Continue reading Evaluating Vitamins and Supplements
Ready for Adventure? An Invitation from Earnest Shackleton
Apparently explorer Earnest Shackleton placed the following notice in a newspaper while preparing for an expedition to Antarctica: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success." Supposedly there were 5,000 men and 3 women who responded! Have we become … Continue reading Ready for Adventure? An Invitation from Earnest Shackleton
Unlikely Friends
Christopher Hitchens is one of the most outspoken atheists today and author of the best-selling book God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Francis Collins is a world re-known scientist with a strong Christian faith, noted for his leadership of the Human Genome Project and his best-selling book The Language of God: A Scientist Presents … Continue reading Unlikely Friends