Selfish greedy leaders
Eddie Obeid is a retired politician and convicted criminal, who served as a member of the NSW Legislative Council between 1991 and 2011. In 2016, a jury found Obeid guilty of misconduct in public office. He was sentenced to five years in jail. Then in 2021 he was sentence to 7 years jail for a similar offence. He misused his position as a Member of Parliament to benefit his family’s financial interests. On many occasions he failed to declare a conflict of interest. He was corrupt and dishonest and looked after his interests instead of the people of NSW. (more…)
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Leaders murdering truth for their own agenda
History is peppered with both political and religious leaders knowingly and willingly lying to the public for their own gain, glory and purposes. Julius Caesar reportedly lied about the Gauls and started a war with them to redirect attention from his own debt and corruption. Hitler famously used his “big lie” technique to gain the popular support and persecute the Jewish people. Much evidence has come to light that when George Bush cited Hussein’s “massive stockpile” of weapons as the reason they were invading Iraq he knew they did not exist. Then we have the even more tragic ever-growing list of Christian leaders who have been exposed as deceitful – embezzling cash, sexual misconduct, extramarital affairs. (more…)
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Only light can repel darkness
For most Australians today literal darkness isn’t much of a problem. We have artificial light at our finger tips and as such can do almost any activity we wish day or night. But the metaphorical darkness of evil still plagues us. We witness political leaders using their power for their own gain at the expense of others, civilians being killed for disagreeing with authorities, money being siphoned into leaders pockets while populations are hungry and homeless. The rich protect the rich without reference to truth or justice. Self service, corruption, greed, deception, violence, this is the kind of moral darkness we can feel powerless to repel. (more…)
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Prophecies about Jesus: The only way of salvation
There have been four shark attacks in NSW this week. A boy died after he was attacked at Shark beach in Vaucluse in Sydney harbour. A man was bitten at Manly beach. The other incidents were at Dee Why beach, and at Point Plomer near Port Macquarie. This follows fatal attacks at Sydney’s Long Reef and near Taree in late 2025. (more…)
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God’s hate speech
When I was young there was a children’s rhyme: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names (words) will never hurt me”. We must have been more resilient and tougher then because now the Australian government wants to legislate against hate speech! This could lead to discrimination against Christians and the censorship of Christian views. (more…)
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Overview of the Bible
This overview of the Bible is based on a video from Christianity Engaged. It is a short walk through the entire Bible to help us understand the greatest story ever told.
The Bible is comprised of 66 different books, but it is a single, cohesive story about a God who made us to love us, and His eternal plan to save us.
The main story arc of the Bible goes like this: creation, the fall of mankind, the global flood, the Tower of Babel, the story of the nation of Israel (which comprises most of the Old Testament), Jesus Christ and the cross, who ushered in a new covenant, the current Church age we are in, and the final eternal state with a new heaven and a new earth. (more…)
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Imagine everlasting happiness
Has there been a moment in your life when you felt truly and deeply happy? What was it that brought you happiness in that moment? How did it end and why? Can you imagine it never ending? (more…)
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Christmas miracles
Numerous movies, TV shows, stories and songs have been written on miracles and Christmas. Did you know that at Christmas we celebrate a miracle? The Bible claims that the conception of Jesus was a miracle. So, He was a miracle baby. But how can anyone believe that this was true? After all, I am not aware of any other miraculous conceptions reported in human history. (more…)
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A great victory
The first cricket test against England finished recently after just two days of play! England batted first and scored 172 runs, which seemed too low. But then Australia only scored 132 runs, giving England a lead of 40 runs on the first innings. In the second innings, England was 1 for 65 (105 runs ahead, with 9 wickets in hand). They would have been feeling confident of winning the game. But then the Australian bowlers took 5 wickets for 23 runs and England scored only 164 in the second innings. This meant that Australia needed to score 205 runs to win, which was higher than all the previous innings. So the English would have still been confident of winning, especially after their fast bowlers had terrorised the Australian batters in the first innings and Khawaja (the Australian opening batter) was injured. So the barmy army of English supporters was in full swing while things were going England’s way. What happened next? Australia was rescued by Travis Head who hit 123 runs off 83 balls! It was an amazing effort. He was a hero and won the game for Australia. And the barmy army were silent. (more…)
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Prophecies about Jesus: His death, burial and resurrection
Mark Taylor (captain of the Australian cricket team, 1994-1999) told Sam Konstas to ditch the ramp shot and go back to basics to force his way back into the (Australian) Test cricket team. The basics are the foundation of whatever you are talking about. Builders know that if the foundation isn’t right, the whole structure will fail. (more…)
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Imagine everlasting peace
Do you know that throughout recorded history there has never been a period of complete global peace? Though some consider we have been in a state of “long peace” since the end of WW2 that isn’t the reality for the millions who have lived in Myanmar, Rwanda, Nigeria, Congo, Somalia, Libya, Vietnam, Sudan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Ukraine, Palestine and so many more countries. (more…)
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Giving thanks in everything
A prayer at the end of a thanksgiving service for an aged care provider
The Bible says that Christians are to, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Th. 5:18NIV). And those who are filled with God the Holy Spirit will be “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20). We can give thanks in everything because God is in control and He is always with those who trust in Him. That’s why each November we publicly honor God and thank Him for the work done through our organization over the past year. (more…)
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Life is not fair
A young boy eagerly trained all year to make the school’s soccer team. He was up at dawn every morning, kicking the ball against the fence, running drills until his legs ached. Tryouts came—and he played better than he ever had. But when the list was posted, his name wasn’t there. Instead, a student whose father sponsored the team got the spot. At home, with tears in his eyes, the boy asked his dad, “Why? I did everything right. It’s not fair.” His father said, “You’re right—it isn’t fair. But life often isn’t. The question isn’t whether life is fair; it’s whether we’ll choose to trust God when it isn’t”. (more…)
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Be ready for whatever the world throws at you
When do you feel at your weakest and most vulnerable? Perhaps it’s when you’re experiencing financial insecurity or if a relationship isn’t going the way you hoped. Perhaps you feel weakest when you’re faced with uncertainty whether it’s uncertainty about your children, about your health, or about your future. Perhaps the everyday demands of life simply leave you exhausted and unsure how you will muster the energy to face another day. (more…)
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Prophecies about Jesus: He would live in Galilee
There are many prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament. For example, Isaiah said that honor and “a great light” would come to the region of Galilee. Galilee was part of the northern region of Israel. In Old Testament times, Israel was mainly invaded from the north because there was desert on the east and south and the Mediterranean Sea on the west. So, Galilee was targeted in many enemy attacks. (more…)
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Terms and conditions
The terms and conditions (T&Cs) of the multinational tech company, Apple, have been the subject of controversy. The T&Cs length, complexity, and potential to be used to entrench Apple’s market power have led to serious criticism. Can we compare Apple’s T&Cs to the T&Cs God put in around the “apple” of the Garden of Eden? (more…)
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The paradox of the cross
What does the death penalty have to do with love? The crucifix was a brutal means of capital punishment in the ancient Roman empire. Death by crucifixion could take between 6 hours and 4 days resulting from excessive bleeding, dehydration or progressive suffocation. It was an extremely painful and shameful way to die, inflicted upon those considered repugnant. And yet today we hang pretty crosses from our ears and necks, tattoo them into our skin, hang them on our walls – bejeweled, ornamental, celebrated. (more…)
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Clean forever
Sometimes getting dirty can be fun. Painting, cooking, gardening, sport, can all be activities we do for fun that may get us a little messy. Sometimes getting clean can be fun. Having a shower and putting on fresh clean clothes after a sweaty, muddy, football [soccer] game feels great. (more…)
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Jesus can help you find the best version of yourself
If you were to imagine the best version of yourself, what, or who, would you imagine? (more…)
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Prophecies about Jesus: His virgin birth
In about 700 BC. the Arameans and the kingdom of Israel planned to attack the kingdom of Judah from the north. This was an attack on a descendant of king David and so was an attack on God’s promise that the Messiah would be a ruler who was a descendant of David. But God told the Judeans not to be afraid and gave them a sign. (more…)
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The original Christmas gift
Can you remember what you got for Christmas last year? How about 5 years ago? How about 2000 years ago?
The magic and excitement of receiving gifts at Christmas has somewhat diminished for me as I’ve gotten older. Like most Australians I am blessed with having everything I need and a lot of what I want. Throughout the year I am my own expert self-gifter. I can search and click, and have exactly what I want delivered to my front door within days. It kind of takes the shine off receiving a gift from someone else who may not really know what I like. (more…)
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The cure for death
What would you be willing to do or sacrifice if it meant having the cure for death? The shadow of death looms over all our lives – rich or poor, young or old. It is the great inescapable equaliser that cuts across nationality, social status, physical ability, gender, sexuality, and belief. (more…)
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When Jesus returns
The sound of a father’s footsteps approaching the front door – the same thing can mean different things to different people. For the two year old that sound may be the most exciting noise she’s heard all day. For the teenager who has just crashed the car it may elicit dread. For a child feeling scared and alone it may be the sound of comfort and relief. How we feel and respond to someone’s return depends on our relationship with them. (more…)
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Jesus is the rock you can stand on
I’m in deep, deep trouble again. I’ve cried my eyes out; I feel hollow inside. My life leaks away, groan by groan; my years fade out in sighs. My troubles have worn me out, turned my bones to powder. To my enemies I’m a monster; I’m ridiculed by the neighbors. My friends are horrified; they cross the street to avoid me. (more…)
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