Alcohol abuse is a real problem in our world. According to a recent Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey, “One in six (16.1%) persons aged 18 years and over consumed more than two standard drinks per day on average”,…

We live in a world full of tests, examinations, and measurements. The testing starts from an early age. Even before babies are born, we use ultrasounds and other tests to check that everything is OK with the little human being in there, who is about…

Forgiveness matters. In fact, it’s part of the bedrock of our relationships. Without forgiveness in our relational world, life would actually become unbearable: Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel The Count of Monte Cristo tells…

At the primary school our kids attended, there was a class for gifted children. It was called the ‘opportunity class’. To get into the opportunity class, the kids had to do a test. They couldn’t study for the test; it was designed to measure…

I once visited a church and sat next to an alcoholic called Phil.[1] I know Phil was an alcoholic because he told me quite soon after church finished. The whole gathering had been lively and emotional, with professional music and young happy faces…