Devotional
100% Truth
(this post was written from a public internet terminal in China) Do you know how to tell the difference between fake pearls and real pearls? Rub them together. Real pearls sound like sandpaper and they will leave a fine grain on your fingers without affecting the colour. What’s the true price of a Rolex watch? [...]
Is there Habib’s in Heaven?
I am writing this post from Sydney. On Tuesday we are off to Habib’s, a middle eastern charcoal chicken haven in Bankstown for dinner. Yes I will be jogging today and tomorrow morning as an ‘insurance policy’ for whatever I eat at Habib’s. So what is so good about this little restaurant? It is has [...]
Sprechen Sie Christian?
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to learn French, German, Greek, Hebrew, & Elvish. My father is a native Cantonese speaker but the only lines I know are “hello” and “thank you for a good meal” (in the “I was put off by the petrified chicken foot in the broth” sense of the word). Foreign [...]
Reflections from “Shadow of the Almighty” (Jim Elliot)
Today’s post comes from my good friend Dan Roland. Dan is serving on pastoral staff in Colorado. Audrey (his wife) is an amazing musician and they have one energetic son. I have been reading “Shadow of the Almighty” about Jim Elliot and I have had to consider my relationship with God and figure out whether [...]
Last Man Standing
I’m not a big fan of the Winter Olympics. I do respect the athletes’ skill. I’m also intrigued with this so-called sport: But I like this classic story from the 2002 games. Australian skater Steven Bradbury had toiled without success since 1994. Then in 2002 Bradbury made it to the semi-final of the 1000-meter short [...]
Fat War Diaries Part 2
It has been 4 months since going down the sawdust trail and committing myself to weight loss. Over 19kgs have been shed from my mortal frame. I pray they will never return. Matt, my PT told me that the first month or so would be the worst. Never have truer words been spoken. Commencing the [...]
Pray The Word
For some of us, it’s easier to talk with God spontaneously during the day: a request here, a thank-you there. To pray anywhere and anytime is an amazing blessing of knowing God. But momentary talks with God are not enough. Imagine a father who comes home and chats for a moment, then leaves. Even if [...]
Of faith that steps out
As the thick jungle finally cleared in front of them, the exhausted pair stumbled into a clearing and stopped abruptly. Before their eyes was a series of peaks standing shoulder to shoulder as if to say “you will never get past.” The sight could have disheartened the sturdiest of men, but the wise old greybeard [...]
Loving Father, Willing Son
I recently took my family to visit the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. With my sons in hand, we gazed on battle scenes and war memorabilia. The boys were keenly interested in the old guns, tanks and planes. “Look at this one, Daddy! Wow, I’d like to fly that one!” I enjoyed their enthusiasm for [...]
A Far Green Country
This video clip has captivated me over the last week or so. I’ve watched it at least a dozen times. Craig Johnson first pointed me to it. Here’s how he introduced it: One of the best parts of the movie, The Return of the King (in my opinion), is this little dialogue between Gandalf and [...]
A life of godliness in light of an early death
“Enjoyed much sweetness” (as he puts it) in the reading of the last months of Brainerd’s life. How consonant are his thoughts to my own regarding the “true and false religion of this late day.” Saw, in reading him, the value of these notations and was much encouraged to think of a life of godliness [...]
What Really Matters
I recently read the story of Caleb from Joshua chapter 14. As far as biblical heroes go, I had always considered 85 year-old Caleb to be the hero of elderly believers. But we all can learn from this godly old man: The phrase, “wholly followed the Lord” is repeated three times in this story. First [...]
