Life and Faith

Tag: 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • The Quarantine Quiet Life

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    Jon
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    I doubt any of us who aspired to achieve a quieter and more peaceful life in 2020 thought this was the way to go about it. Sure, in my case, less children’s birthday parties, less meetings, and more time with family were all good things to aspire to. But at the sake of people contracting…

  • Published: The Stories Behind The Stories

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    Jon
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    The surface level small talk and the triviality of much of life, thanks to social media and the busyness of life, makes it hard to take time and listen to others. Recently I’ve been pondering this, particularly after observing the way people around me use social media and their devices. My ponderings made it into…

  • Recently Read: April 2019

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    Jon
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    Here are some short summaries of books I’ve read recently. I haven’t been reading as much as I’d like in recent time, but here are some of the books I’ve dipped into. 1. The Reckoning by John Grisham This is the best Grisham book I’ve read in a long time. It is his usual fiction,…

  • Reading For The Head And The Heart

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    Jon
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    Over the summer break we’re exploring some of the Psalms in our Sunday gatherings. I was able to kick off the series this past weekend by preaching through Psalm 1. It was an apt Psalm to end 2018 and look toward a new year. Like much of the Psalms there is a call for a…

  • Published: Clarifying The Call Of God

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    Jon
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    ‘Calling’ is one of those Christian words, used by Christian people, that is more confusing than clear. In this article for Rooted Ministry I try to unpack the meaning of calling and seek to bring helpful clarification. “To feel called by God would be evidence that we are unique, that we are special, that we are being…

  • Disappearing Church by Mark Sayers

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    Jon
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    I’m not even a fanboy but it seems I have found myself reading everything Mark Sayers has written. OK, not ‘Vertical Self’, but ssshhhhh. Anyway, his books make me think and for that reason alone I find them useful. Over a month ago I finished reading his book, ‘Disappearing Church’. And perhaps it’s because he…