Life and Faith

Category: On Life

  • The Enduring Joy of Christ

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    Jon
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    I am often amazed when I hear stories of people who have gone through such hardship and suffering yet they are still so filled with joy. Recently I heard testimony of believers and Christian workers who were still joyful and hopeful despite being displaced and impoverished because of the war in Ukraine. Those brothers and…

  • J.I. Packer – An Evangelical Life by Leland Ryken

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    Jon
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    I first came across J.I. Packer and his writings while I was at university, which was some 20 years ago. And since then Packer has been influential in my faith, particularly through numerous popular volumes that currently sit on my bookshelves. Over the years I’ve found him to be a stabilising and assuring voice on…

  • Reading The Bible In Community

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    Jon
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    Years and years ago, back when I was working as a personal trainer, I’d often train people in groups. That is, me as the trainer and then 2-5 others all working out together under my guidance. They may have been friends who wanted to workout together. They may have been mum’s who trained together after…

  • Soft Serve Ice-Cream or How I am Trying to Avoid the Harm of Wealth Hoarded

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    Jon
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    Below is a guest post by Steve, a member of my church, who writes a terrific little thoughtful piece that will make you think and have a chuckle at the same time. Enjoy. Recently my Mum passed away after a short illness. She was a generous soul. The whole experience has triggered a number of…

  • 6 Encouragements To Live By Faith

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    Jon
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    In my last post I described walking through Hebrews 11 like entering a corridor at the museum. Paintings hanging on the walls, dim light from the ceilings and windows, and statues and busts of important people lining each side. Next to each of their depictions sits a plaque with the little description we find in…

  • By Faith – A Future Hope

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    Jon
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    Hebrews 11 is one of those chapters in the Bible that is packed with so much that it takes numerous readings to grasp its various teachings. It’s the chapter where the writer outlines all those significant biblical characters of the past, and describes briefly how they lived by faith, trusting and obeying God throughout their…

  • On Connection

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    Jon
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    The other day I was out for my daily bout of exercise, the intentional walk to get out of the house and get the body moving, and as I passed one particular person in the street I noticed how enthusiastic they were in saying ‘hello’. It may have been a very brief interaction but through…

  • The Lord of The Lockdowns

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    Jon
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    It’s now a familiar feeling.  Deflated, sad, disappointed, upset, anxious, depressed even. These are the kinds of emotions people in Melbourne are experiencing, and plenty more as well. Up and down on the COVID rollercoaster we go as we are given little freedoms before locking down again as outbreaks of this disease are made known…

  • Psalm 103: Praise The Lord

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    Jon
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    It is certainly difficult to go through this Psalm without recognising the call to praise. The beginning and the ending couch this Psalm in words to encourage praise. Note how personal the writer King David is as he expresses himself. “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the…

  • Psalm 103: Dwell On The Lord

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    Jon
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    In recent months there have been numerous articles suggesting more Australians have been thinking about aspects of faith and spirituality. COVID seems to have had an impact, not only in the way we think about health and operate as such, but also in matters of faith, priorities in life, and the dwelling on eternity. Something…