Author Archive
Bye, Bin Laden
A few thoughts on the death of Osama bin Laden. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Yet God also laughs at man’s rebellious attempts, Islamic or otherwise, to overthrow the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. I don’t want to get carried away with glee over the death of an evil man, [...]
In The Presence Of My Enemies
Martin and Gracia Burnham were American missionaries in the Philippines for seventeen years, when militant Muslims kidnapped and imprisoned them in their island stronghold. For over a year, Martin and Gracia suffered in captivity and isolation. A ransom was paid but the kidnappers refused to release the Burnhams. On June 7, 2002, Filipino troops attempted [...]
Easter Is For Runners
“What is your most popular Easter egg?” I asked the lady at Darrell Lea. She pointed to a large-sized egg. “Oh, definitely the nougat egg — the whole thing is filled with nougat!” Sounds way too sweet, I thought. No offence, nougat fans. For most people, Easter is a nougat egg. It’s filled with sweetness [...]
Jim Berg On Godliness
I’m taking a break this week. Here’s five thoughts from Jim Berg on godliness: “Godliness is a vibrant, personal relationship with God that manifests itself in actions consistent with Who God is and with what He is doing in the earth.” “Nothing erodes progress toward godliness more than today’s entertainment mindset and the modern church’s [...]
Australian, Baptist, Independent … And Calvinist?
I don’t think of myself as a Calvinist, although I greatly benefit from Reformed theology. This was not always my experience. As a child, I once heard this horrified whisper in church concerning a newcomer: “I know about him. He’s a Calvinist!” — as if the man were an alien or baddie. In another church, [...]
Old Advice For Modern Parents
“False natural love blinds parents so that they have more regard for the bodies of their children than they have for their souls… It is of the greatest importance for every married man to pay closer, more thorough, and continuous attention to the health of his child’s soul than to the body which he has [...]
Giving In Australia
The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies has highlighted some interesting statistics on Australians’ charitable giving. In 2007-08 (the most recent year for their research), the average tax-deductible donation made and claimed by Australian taxpayers was $523.10. This average amount has nearly trebled in the last decade. In 2007-08, 4.48 million taxpayers (or 35.47% [...]
Earthquake in Japan
“Terrible, isn’t it?” The cashier girl commented on the newspaper I was browsing, referring to the events in Japan this week. “Yes it is … what do you think about it?” I asked. The girl pondered for a moment. ”Seems like we’re out of harm’s way here in Sydney!” Leaving the shop, I wondered how [...]
Free To Forgive
I read Corrie Ten Boom’s life story The Hiding Place when I was a boy. I remember being moved by her family’s courage in sheltering Jews during the Nazi occupation, until they were betrayed and arrested in 1944. The family was separated and sent to prison camps. Her father died in prison, and her nephew [...]
Pink In Sydney
A.W. Pink is probably best known for writing The Sovereignty of God. Written in 1918, it was a controversial but strong argument for God’s supremacy. Virtually unknown in his lifetime, he speaks through his writings today. Biographer Iain Murray claims he was “one of the most influential evangelical authors in the second half of the [...]
Tirocinium: A Plea To Dads
English poet William Cowper (“cooper”) lived a dark life. His mother died when he was six, after giving birth to his brother. Little William was then sent away to boarding school and was cruelly abused. His father was a distant figure. After various episodes of instability, Cowper became a recluse and struggled with depression throughout [...]
What’s Your Style?
I worked part-time in a department store during my seminary years. The store promoted clothing from Ralph Lauren and other brands, with glossy posters and creative displays. Each brand presented a certain “look” to attract the customer. I soon became aware of the value of style. What is style? Style (from “stylus” or pen) [...]
