New Year’s Resolution: focus on the now

I was recently reflecting on the initial results released after the 2021 Australian Community Survey[1] regarding what Christians think and know about Jesus and church. Already these things should cause us to come to God in prayer. On the one…

Coming together at Christmas time

In my household, a tradition that has occurred each year is that we put up decorations around the house and the Christmas tree together. First comes the task of collecting all the decorations from around the house and laying them out as a reminder…

#blessed in giving rather than receiving

Have you noticed people using the hashtag #blessed when they receive or have something enjoyable? I’ve never yet come across anyone who has used that hashtag when they have given something away sacrificially until it hurts. But surely, that…

Hoping Christmas is Good News

The decorations at the shopping malls tell us that Christmas is just around the corner. We are about to begin again the round of carol Services and Nativity plays. The Christmas card list is dusted off for another year and, in my case, I scan to see…

How can we avoid conflicts?

I grew up in a family where we avoided conflicts. If we were unhappy, we would keep it to ourselves. If we were to bring anything up, it would be done in an indirect way. If the conflict reached a crisis point, either people would walk away and not let…