Over the past few years, as I have talked about and wrestled with our call to faithfully seek out and create beauty and goodness in our world, I have been frustrated by the seeming disparity between the imagery and language of our two realities. Too often, it seems we witness violence, tragedy, hunger and horror,…
It seems almost inevitable at this time of year that an earnest friend, family member or perhaps someone at your church will announce—with all the breathless enthusiasm and urgency of one who has just discovered a dark secret—the pagan origins of what we have come to know as Christmas. After some years of being only…
‘The Star’ takes us on a journey through the most important biblical event through the perspective of the animals encountered on the journey. The movie had so much potential to be a blockbuster but we all know Christian movies are not widely received like that. ‘Star’ tries to recreate one of the most important moments…
Everybody grinds to get their daily bread, whether it is for themselves or for someone else. Parents work overtime to be able to fulfil their role as providers. Teenagers accept unfair labour and low wages to afford their desire for sociability and self-determination. Workers pick up more shifts at work and cancel more plans with…
So I will start with a simple question. When you think of Christmas what is the first thing that comes to your head. Presents and a Xmas tree or Jesus in his manger? Society has given us this image of what Christmas should look like and be. It has become more complicated than it should…
I finally popped my ‘Road to Bethlehem’ Cherry! Yes, I know, “How could you have never gone to Road to Bethlehem?”. It’s a question I get asked quite a lot during this time. And the honest answer is… “I don’t know”. It was never in the plans but after this week I’m sure to make…
I love science! When I think of pressure my mind begins to explore, gas laws, space and scuba diving, but perhaps the most fascinating application of pressure is the formation of diamonds. Diamonds start off as ordinary carbon atoms trapped under the earth’s crust. 150 kilometres or more below the surface, this carbon undergoes enormous…
Dealing with stress is something that everyone, including devout believers, will at some point in life HAVE to deal with. We can even take comfort in that, even our Master, in John 12:27 was troubled in his soul, and in distress. Regardless of the source and nature of the stress, one thing is inevitable; we…
Stress, deadlines, exams, jobs, expectations, assignments, exhaustion… pressure. Has your heart rate increased? Are you still reading or hiding under the covers? There is always something that needs doing whether it be working, studying, catching up with friends, housework, something for church, etc. While we might enjoy all of these things, it can quickly become…
I just feel overwhelmed,” I said to my wife, trying to explain the weight I felt pressing on me during the first couple of weeks at work for the year. Part of it was reminiscent of the first week of a university semester, when all the lecturers would outline the breadth of reading and the…