This week, I went to church. Well, I went to a church. This church. It’s Christ Church Anglican Cathedral in my hometown, Newcastle, Australia. I’ve been going to visit this church for a few months now, usually when I need some time to clear my head and sense God’s presence close...

Of all the stories surrounding Jesus that appear in the Bible, one of my favourites would have to be the account in John chapter four of the Samaritan woman who speaks with Jesus at the well. Now, I’ve heard many readings of this passage, most which focus entirely on Jesus’ words and actions –...

Yesterday I watched this video with David Dark and David Bazan from the “Q” Conference. Dark is a professor and author. Bazan is an alternative rock musician who self-identified as a “non-practicing Evangelical” in the video.  The video runs just over sixteen minutes but is well worth the...

The e-mails kept coming. More often. Longer. Before logging into my Gmail account every morning, I played a little game in my head. No messages today meant there was hope they’d change their mind. Unread e-mail sitting in my inbox indicated a chance to explain myself. Make them see the good in my intentions. . The...

John Eldredge’s latest title, “Beautiful Outlaw” is his first since switching publishers. After a longtime association with Thomas Nelson, he’s now writing for Faithwords, home of the great Billy Coffey but also home to the very scary Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. [Disclaimer:...

None of us knew what had caused the war–the explosions, the devastation, all of it. It happened too fast, and for whatever reason all of us who survived had been too busy to stay informed enough to venture a guess, educated or not, as to the cause. We knew it was over and besides our group there...

The fourteen year old me would be horrified and shocked about what I am about to publicly write, but here goes: I love my Mommy. While this is not a new emotion for me, as I’ve been blessed to have a very good relationship with both her and my Dad, lately I feel like I need to address just what...

Apologetics is usually a term that conjures up a weighty, wrenching sensation in my stomach. I have to admit my biases. I envision images of pointed fingers, King James Bibles, Chick tracts and loud Christianese. You know – the language of overly zealous Christians who want you to see their way...

My grandfather just de-friended me on Facebook. He didn’t have a moment of confusion or senior dementia (he is annoyingly savvy with the computer for a 75-year-old), but he did it intentionally and with a touch of snark – writing “bye” on my wall right before electronically disowning me....

When I was a kid, we used to play the “opposite game”. A typical conversation would go like this; Me: “I’m not hungry.” My brother: “I’m really not hungry.” Me: “I’m really, really, not hungry.  I’m so not hungry that I couldn’t...