Fathers Day – How God’s love breaks through in marriage
Fathers Day is the day I count as being born again – a short article on how God’s love continues to transform and help
Getting the best for your soul AND spirit, along side the best for your body.
Vote Today 2016
#AUSVOTESThis could be the biggest election by way of noticeable results in a generation. Not for financial reasons… I’m amazed at how far we have fallen as a nation in the last 10, but especially 5 years. I am hoping and praying that people, especially Christians, vote with their heads TODAY! Imagine where we could be in 5 years if the Greens get in…a world where the planet, plants and beasts are worth more than humans and where for humans anything is acceptable except the Creators chosen way…where every religion is fine and should be tolerated even if violent, except for …
Who is Alive – Jesus or Jack?
JACK LIVES HERE: I had this sticker on my car, and in the bar. I loved Jack Daniels whiskey – like *loved* it, but didn’t know… Jack was actually dead. One day he forgot the combo to his safe… (funny that!) he got angry, kicked the safe & died from gangrene! Seriously! Jack is not alive he is dead…and you will be too one day. If you keep drinking Jacks it will likely be sooner than you expect. Maybe you’re like me & don’t care that memory loss, anger & death will result. Maybe you think that it doesn’t affect …
Look the other way
I saw today a post where someone had put the words: “as a Christian I would never enforce my view on anyone” I could hardly believe my eyes – is this why so many professing ‘Christians’ are unwilling to stand up and say no to abortion or the re-definition of marriage? If I were walking down the park and saw a group of boys throwing stones at a Magpie, using a stick to stab a cute kitten, throwing acid at a dog or using a crossbow to shoot a Kangaroo – should I walk or look away? What …
Lawyers prove that the resurrection didn’t happen
Lawyers who tried to prove the two main events of the Bible to discredit Christianity, find the facts actually give credit to the Bible. Follow the facts!
Christmas – Jesus: Fact or Fiction?
Proof that Jesus was more than just a baby: that Jesus’ birth, celebrated at Christmas, is relevant to YOU…
Am I a Bigot? You decide…
What defines bigotry? Here are some no-nonsense beliefs for running society.
Bus – to be or not to be
With both vehicles off the road, we were stranded. What could be an intense and stressful time was far from that…In the past, we would have had at the very least a few hours, though more likely a number of days of stress in thsi situation. Sharmini had failed to tick a box on the change of address form leading to the car being unlicensed. This would either be the end of the road for this vehicle or it would be time and money to fix – both of which are in short supply. And I had failed to check …
Protecting life, getting strife!
Part way through a hectic and problematic week, a trip to Perth turns ‘sour’ – but it is just the beginning… The good in the ‘bad’… Scripture(s): Psalm 32, 51 A day of prep for a long drive to the pro-life rally yesterday, didn’t quite go as planned… If there is one event of the year that I believe all Christians of all denominations and theological backgrounds should attend or be part of – it would be on the theme of defending the lives of precious children and standing against their mass, legal, murder. To say I was excited …
JW Something the Jehovahs Witnesses are missing
Some brief notes on a conversation and some scripture verses that can help with evangelism… Notes: Below are a number of verses that I recently printed out for an (unsaved) family member who has had a slight JW indoctrination – they can be helpful when evangelising. There is also some notes that may be helpful… Description:This family member has had contact with the JW’s and therefore has some serious flaws in his thoughts about God & salvation. I recently went through a number of things in the scriptures with him about Who Jesus is, ‘Jehovah’ and salvation. When he was …
Two Blokes walk in to a Church…which one are you?
One walks to the front, sits down…. Modern day Bible parables… Scripture(s): Luke 18:10-14 Description:Today for Jesus time I talked of two men, Timothy & Phillip. Tim was quite rich, looked nice, was polite & kind & helped people all the time. He was a ‘good christian’. He went to church & was very thankful for what God had done & who he was. Philip, the other guy, was rough & rude – and sometimes stole things. He went to church only occasionally & didn’t talk to anyone. I talked of the way they prayed and then asked the younger …
Beer, Cones, Spirits
Sometime early in 1999… One day in my sisters community housing flat in Balga I had a group of friends over – drinking & smoking cones in my room – I never smoked any. I had become what some would call ‘paranoid’ when smoking dope… (Some names have been changed to protect identities.) I was a chronic user to start with, dealing and having cones / buckets at every stop when selling / picking up, joints along the way and then social sessions too. To put it in perspective I remember one night after standard sessions during the day and …
Strange ways the Joy of Following comes….
Sometimes following can be…The Joy of Following Yesterday we received a sales order through one of the sales websites we run. Attached to the order was a lovely note: “We have several of your Australian laminated posters, much love and thanks!!!” It is nice to get little personal notes – especially when they are as nice as this. However, within 5 minutes we received the below email from the same person: Subject: YUCK!!! you twisted sickos Message: after processing a payment for an item I WAS TOLD yebus is alive go to hell!! mat devils swarm upon you …
Going through a hard time? Read This!
Are you going through a hard time? A lot are right now and might not be what you think…Trials now or later? We will have them – but when and what will you embrace? Scripture(s): James 4, Hebrews 12 I am continually talking to people at the moment and hearing stories where it seems everything is going wrong. Very wrong. We ourselves seem to be just emerging (hopefully!) from such a time. If you are going through trials I want to encourage you – Embrace the One behind the Trials! Hard times can come from a lot of different places …
Baby 5 Birth – too early is not too late
What an epic 24 hours! I know that we don’t live a ‘normal’ suburban life – but the last 24 hours has been more crazy than normal… The last few weeks has really been amazing – and not what people would say in a good way. We have had drama after drama with some things happening that just seem ridiculous. Some of them have threatened the existence (forever) of our business, the completion of our house with literally more problems than could be imagines with what would seem to be simple things and sickness. But our reactions have not …
Raising children, a house or income?
A reflection and note to self about the importance of time… Are we raising children, a house or an income? People who are depressed (and especially those who are suicidal) are so focussed on themselves, they simply can not see that they have any worth – that others would care or that they are valuable to others. This can be seen in a common theme in suicide notes “I want you to get on with life and be happy” – but they have just killed themselves when you read it – they can not see the sad effect they have …
What is bad for business, but good for customers?
Today we tidied a small part of the office – but a very vital one…In the small business we run, we often post items out all over Australia and the world. We have a variety of accounts with different freight companies and there are a large number variables in the method – but one thing is constant: Every single order gets a tract, message, book or gift as we feel is appropriate – what we feel God wants for that person. Sometimes, just sometimes, we put an item or gift in the package that is worth more than the total …
Falsely Accused – Pedophile Accusation
This guy recently shared something with me that many don’t understand… (PG)The other day I met a guy who made a passing comment about something abstract. I was genuinely interested so asked him questions until he shared the root. He had recently been accused of being a pedophile – photos of his car had been posted online with descriptions of his alleged ‘looking at children’. (He is a courier and was looking for a house number – but the reporters don’t seem to have this information). The police had made contact and then the day before i talked to him …
Jesus – Foundation for Life…and building!
Topic: What makes a good foundation? Scripture(s): Psalm 118:22, Psalm 127:1-2 Today we had our compaction test…after a huge week with many trials and joys, the results were not what we expected. Notes: The Bible verses are included below, but it is more beneficial to read any verses from an actual Bible – or better yet, have the children read from their own. We recommend the NLT (New Living Translation – Tyndale Publishers) which is easy to read but very accurate. If you don’t have one please let us know as we may be able to help. Description We have …
Jesus heals the hand
Topic: Do we love mercy or law? Scripture(s): Matthew 12:9-14 Jesus time this morning we acted like Pharisees…and found that sometimes it’s not an act!
Head v’s Heart
Topic: Two different types of belief… Scripture(s): Romans 10:9-10 Getting to the heart of belief. Notes: The Bible verses are included below, but it is more beneficial to read any verses from an actual Bible – or better yet, have the children read from their own. We recommend the NLT (New Living Translation – Tyndale Publishers) which is easy to read but very accurate. If you don’t have one please let us know as we may be able to help. Description Sharmini has long had a love of art. She draws & creates things that reflect what she is feeling …
Does God protect the foolish?
Yesterday, one of the boys fell 3m out of a tree…and that is just the start…
The Self Control of Jesus
If you have children, you probably have discovered that self control is a topic that is vital – continually. It can be helpful for the children too… Topic: Self Control Scriptures: Proverbs 5:22-23, 1 Peter 1:13-14, Matt 26:36-46 (or Mark 14:32-42 or Luke 22:39-46) Notes: The Bible verses are included below, but it is more beneficial to read any verses from a Bible – or better yet, have the children read from their own. We recommend the New Living Translation (NLT) which is easy to read but very accurate. If you don’t have one please let us know as we …
Passover Expedition 2014
This year, we decided to go a bit further than just a meal…a midnight trek and camping out without tents! Crazy? Maybe – but fun? You bet! I mean, what would it be like to leave slavery in Egypt?
Passover 2014 – the Meal
It’s Easter – a time where we often spend more time acting Jewish than Christian (sort of!). Today we had our 2nd ‘Cedar Meal’ or passover feast… Topic: Celebrating what God did and has done! Scripture(s): Exodus 1 – 14:4 Notes: The story of the Passover (and indeed all of Israel’s history) is incredible and riveting to adults and children. There is so much to learn about what they did (and how we do the same), the consequences they suffer (which we do too) and God’s character of love and forgiveness despite our constant bad choices. As there is a …
Nehemiah’s Wall
What started as a whimsical idea led to one of our longest, most fun and eye opening Jesus times yet! It involved building a wall – with one hand!
April Fools – jokes on …?
Today I got to thinking about the activities and character traits we model to our kids… We take moral training seriously for our children -in fact good morals were one of the reasons we chose to homeschool. So when we look at the motives and results of April Fools day – it raises a few issues…
When will it end?
The Big M (4) – ‘dad will we have finished building the house by the time I’m the Jman’s age(9)? Doubling your age to the completion of a project is huge…5 years is a looong time to a 4 year old! I know how he feels – at the end of a long hard week with virtually no progress in building, health and financial issues and an ever approaching deadline it can seem impossible. At times it is hard to cling to hope through the sickness, pain and trials. But I’m finding more and more, despite the current circumstances …
Temple of Deception
This story about the Temple of Luxor illustrates perfectly the fact that a lot of us rely of ‘truth’ that is in fact false…
True Foundations
An activity to illustrate the need to be sure of our true foundations – not just what we think is true! This activity shows clearly that we can be wrong – very wrong – and the consequences are huge. But it was FUN!
What does God want today?
Sometimes when you’re too busy, there is only one thing you can do… Today after teaching about letting God excite us as we do His work, the difference between the general will and specific will of God, and a session asking Him what He wanted – He answered. So we drove 15km to hand out a few tracts and talk to different people about God, sin, forgiveness like we thought He wanted us to… Little did we know that He had 3 specific people in mind!
Thank you Dad…a reflection of 2013
A brief summary of 2013 – the ups and downs and thanks for it all. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
The Slavery of Sugar
There is a lot of talk about sugar and it’s addictive qualities at the moment. While I agree that there are dangers of consuming too much refined sugar, the link between sugar and slavery has another, often overlooked, and possibly more powerful link… While many hold to a relative, social based (or humanistic) moral code, we don’t have to look far to see the results of this belief. When we base our morals on what we see around us, an ‘internal check’ or social norms, many terrible things can and do occur. Slavery is a obvious example. Only a couple …
Jesus Time What it is & Why we do it…
Scripture(s): Proverbs 22:6, Luke 13:27, John 10:14, 17:3 Notes: ‘Jesus Time’ – whatever it looks like for your family – should never become a religious thing you do, before you get on with ‘real’ life. It is a foundational time from which all other parts of life are built on…