Why is it that some people seem so much happier than others? Why is it that different people, with seemingly identical lives, can have such diverse levels of happiness? (more…)
Monthly Archives: March 2009
Is Jesus all about life?
Everyday Ministry, Sola Panel
Over at Sydney Anglicans, Dominic Steele has kicked off a discussion about the Jesus, All About Life (JAAL) campaign—in particular, focusing on the follow-up material that is sent to enquirers who see the JAAL ads on TV. (more…)
How to freak out your church treasurer
Everyday Ministry
Here’s something simple and biblical.
- Buy something necessary, but not cheap, on behalf of your church—for example, all the meat for the men’s evangelistic barbecue evening, or a large amount of food for a soup kitchen.
Ezekiel’s aliens
Life
One of my memories of arriving home from school and watching bad TV re-runs in the early 80s involves a show called Project UFO. It was a show supposedly based on US Air Force investigations of paranormal sightings. The voice-over for the opening credits said (and you really should try and say this in the deepest and most significant voice you can muster),
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What is a tree for?
Life, Sola Panel
A tree is a blessing from God for his creation, even in those wild places where no human being has set foot. (more…)
Bizarre redemption
Everyday Ministry
For those not up with the Australian swimming scene (i.e. about 99.9% of the world’s population), the name Nick D’Arcy is probably meaningless. But he’s a big name in the local papers. Why? Well, about a year ago now, in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics, D’Arcy was out partying with friends when he king hit one of his teammates, and left him with fractures to his jaw, eye socket, hard palate, cheek bone and nose. The police charged him, and he pleaded guilty. He was ruled out of the Olympic team, and has spent the last 12 months in the wilderness, so to speak. This week, at the Australian swimming trials, he broke his own national record for the 200m butterfly, and booked a place in the Australian team for the Rome world championships. The only hitch is that the judge will sentence him as he’s been convicted of grievous bodily harm. (more…)
A basic booklist for MTS
Pastoral Ministry, Sola Panel
I need your help. I’ve trained a number of MTS apprentices for a decade and a half. (For more info on the whole MTS apprentice training philosophy, read Passing the Baton by Col Marshall.) (more…)
Driscoll’s New Calvinism
Thought
Time magazine has called ‘The New Calvinism’ (whatever that is exactly) the third most influential idea changing the world right now. In response, Mark Driscoll has produced his list of four ways in which the New Calvinism is different to the Old one. For the sake of the discussion, let me repeat them below:
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On being generous
Thought, Sola Panel
I keep hearing calls for a ‘generous orthodoxy’—one that is kind and open-minded towards those who differ, and that doesn’t come down hard on every mistake or variation in doctrine. This is a useful and attractive idea, as well as a dangerous one, of course (Carl Trueman has commented insightfully on the issues over at Reformation21). (more…)
Appreciation and approval
Life
From as far back as I can remember, I’ve been the kind of person who feels a strong desire to please people. I want their approval and praise for the things I do. Sometimes I’ve even wondered if I have a kind of addiction to the brain chemicals that come with receiving affirmation and acclaim! Mark Twain famously said that he could “live for two months on a good compliment”; I’m not sure I could last that long, but I can certainly relate to the sentiment. (more…)
Is it easy to love our neighbours?
Everyday Ministry
We’ve been reading the Sermon on the Mount around the dinner table over the last week or so, and it’s made for great discussion and interesting questions. (“Dad, why would someone want my tooth?”) A couple of nights ago, we were talking about the issues Jesus raises concerning loving your neighbours and praying for those who persecute you. The discussion went something like this:
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Thankful for common grace
Life
My youngest son went into hospital the other day for minor surgery. I spent the morning not quite being able to sit still, in spite of knowing that this sort of thing happens to hundreds of children around the world every day. As it turned out, everything went smoothly. He got his own television set to watch, and was given a lemonade iceblock, so all was right with the world. (more…)
The end of Mark’s Gospel
Life
To anyone who reads it, the end of Mark seems like an enigma. While there are longer endings, the oldest and most reliable manuscripts come to a stop at verse 8.
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Ageing beauty
Life, Sola Panel
I’m sitting outside a cafe at a wobbly iron table, my pen moving lazily and messily across my notebook as I dream and write, dream and write. I sip from my mug-sized chai latte. A European wasp hovers hungrily above the frothed milk. (more…)
Investing in bookshops
Life, Sola Panel
A personal theological library is a vital tool for anyone serious about serving the gospel. It is important to invest in good Christian books. But have you ever considered the importance of investing in good Christian bookshops? (more…)