Australian scholar Rev Dr John Dickson currently serves as Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College in Illinois, U.S.A. After a recent stint back home in Sydney, he has just returned to the States with a large carton full of Arnott’s TimTams. Like many people who live and work in a foreign…

The christening of infants is not all that different from a birthday party. Invitations are sent out, everyone dresses up, lots of photos are taken with loved ones. Then comes a celebratory gathering involving food and festivity, which has usually taken months to plan. There may even be a special cake. All these things can…

In this technological age with so much information available at our fingertips, it’s important to have reliable sources. But who can you trust? There is plenty of misinformation and fake news in circulation; many journalists seem to peddle opinion, speculation and even sometimes propaganda, rather than actually reporting facts. We need to be extremely discerning…

Today is Fathers’ Day – an opportunity to recognise fathers and father-figures who have made a positive impact on our lives. I give thanks today for my late Dad, a humble and loving man, who, though of course not perfect, had a sincere faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and sought to live for Him.…

Genesis 50:20 is one of the most powerful and moving verses in Scripture. Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Although Joseph suffered terribly due to the actions of others, God had a plan, and remained in control. Through trial and difficulty, Joseph was able to…

That’s what you could say about Joseph. Through all the ups and downs of his life, God’s hand was clearly at work. Situations that seemed far from ideal turned out to have a greater purpose. And at just the right moment, Joseph stepped up and did what he needed to, acting with wisdom, godliness and…

The media loves a story about some scandal or other, whether it involves sportspeople, politicians, religious leaders or other public figures. People are understandably outraged when those in high profile or leadership positions engage in misconduct, corruption or other immoral behaviour. After all, people with authority, visibility or influence need to set a good example…

Have you ever been misunderstood? Perhaps someone formed the wrong impression about your character or intentions. Maybe they misinterpreted your actions or words, taking offence where none was meant, or wrongly accusing you of something you didn’t do. Misunderstandings can easily occur, and can be hurtful. We need to be humble enough to admit when…

This comforting hymn is perhaps best known as being one of the final pieces of music played by the band on the RMS Titanic as it was sinking. Some survivors and historians dispute this version of events, so we cannot say for certain. Whatever the case, I certainly hope there were people on board that…

It has become fashionable to say that human beings are ‘animals’. This stems from acceptance of the absurd theory that we evolved from some ape-like species in the distant past. Such attitudes have led some to advocate for animals being treated similarly to human beings. Yet it goes further than equality. Some proponents of so-called…