Imagine being in a courtroom. The prosecution is hurling accusations at the defendant, and the accusations are true. All the evidence shows that they are definitely guilty, and deserving of punishment. Yet there is a defence lawyer like no other. He speaks to the judge on behalf of the defendant and says, “Your honour, my…
It is impossible for human beings to know each other completely. Consider our thoughts, for example. We cannot truly know what another person is thinking unless they reveal it to us. But who can honestly say they have shared every single thought they’ve ever had? Also, we aren’t always completely aware of the motives of…
Matthew 4:6 (cf. parallel passage in Luke 4:10,11) is unique in that it is the only place where any part of Psalm 91 is quoted in the New Testament. It is also noteworthy because the one quoting it is none other than Satan himself. When the devil was tempting the Lord Jesus, he told Him…
Have you ever seen a child trying to show their parent or family member how much they love them? They stretch their little arms out as far as they can go, even bending them backwards as if this signifies an even greater amount. “I love you THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS much!” It’s a childlike but beautiful gesture.…
Happy New Year to you! I hope the holiday season has been one of rest and refreshment for you and your loved ones. After Christmas celebrations are over, the next ‘event’ is New Year’s Eve/Day. While many choose to keep things low key and quiet, some make this into quite a big deal. There are…
This is a paraphrase of a line from Robert Burns’ poem To a Mouse. Burns is said to have written it after he destroyed a mouse’s nest while ploughing a field. The mouse’s careful planning and work were derailed by something it did not expect – human agricultural dominion. While Burns expresses regret at having…
This week our nation has been rocked by the abhorrent attacks that took place in Bondi last Sunday. Fifteen innocent people, including a ten-year-old girl, gunned down while celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah (also known as ‘the Festival of Lights’). Forty-one wounded. Heartbroken families and friends in need of our love and prayers. …
No doubt this phrase will be heard by many a parent during this Christmas and New Year period as families go away on holiday. Youngsters often do not grasp the time it takes to travel, and if they are feeling bored, they may become impatient. This is captured well in Alison Lester’s great children’s book…
Some people are ‘straight-talkers’; they are not afraid to bring up confronting or challenging truths in order to communicate directly and clearly, and to solve problems. They can at times appear to be insensitive, and always need to ensure that they are gracious as well as truthful. But wouldn’t we say that ‘honesty is the…
Back in 1997, talented Aussie kids’ entertainer Colin Buchanan wrote a great song called ‘Practise being godly’. The song reminds us that the Christian life can be a bit like a race or some other kind of sport (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:7,8). As Colin puts it, “You can lift big weights, you can…