How Christians Can Go Beyond The ‘Culture War’ – Part 1 Many Christians feel we’re losing the ‘culture war’. From SSM to euthanasia, the traditional Christian perspective has lost ground in much of mainstream society. We’re a minority. And yet, I want to suggest that far from getting down about the marginalisation of Christianity, we should look to the opportunities that minority status brings. Now…
'Christian living' Tagged Posts (Page 2)
The Paradox of Prayer – Part 1 BIBLE & THEOLOGY Praying is a paradox in the life of most Christians. When we reflect about the experience of praying, we find it is the easiest thing in the world, yet we are inevitably bad at doing it. And we find it is the point of feeling closest in our relationship with the God…
Three important differences between Flatter and Encouragement—Part 2 (for part 1 please visit our web site) Flattery builds pride; encouragement builds strength. Often flattery begins with the phrase “You are so…”. Granted, that doesn’t automatically define a statement as flattery, but when what follows is a thick syrup of meaningless praise, it’s a pretty good indicator. Since the flatterer is driven by…
Three important differences between flattery and encouragement – Part 1 There’s a fine line between words that flatter and words that encourage—so fine, in fact, that the words used might be identical. “You are so beautiful” could qualify as rank fawning; it could also, given the right circumstances, tone of voice, and context of relationship, serve as a genuine statement of appreciation,…
Tools, Technology and Attention In 1976, at the dawn of the computer age, the Canadian philosopher George Grant wrote an essay entitled: “The Computer Does Not Impose On Us The Ways It Should Be Used”. The title was a quotation of a claim made by someone seeking to calm anxieties about this unfamiliar new technology. Yet Grant went on to argue that…
How to talk to strangers – part 3 (Part 1 & 2 are on our web site) Bring it back to Jesus It’s tricky in an initial conversation, but try to discern whether your new acquaintance is a Christian or not. In a church setting this topic arises more naturally than if you’re meeting in a park or a school’s parents night,…
How to talk to strangers – part 2 The art of conversation Now that we’ve dealt with the principles, let’s talk about practicalities. Make the most of small talk Small talk can be boring, but it’s a necessary step in the relationship-building process. It helps the other person feel more comfortable with you, and it gradually opens the doors that lead to…
How to talk to strangers – Part 1 Karen Beilharz is a Sydney-based writer, editor and comics creator best known for her work on ‘Kinds of Blue: An anthology of short comics about depression’ and ‘Eternal Life’, a science fiction graphic novel with Paul Wong-Pan. (Find more of her work at hivemindedness.com.) She is a former editor of ‘The Briefing’ and attends…
How to cope with going back to work after holidays Do you enjoy a summer break after a busy year of work? At the beginning of their summer holidays most Australians are preparing for Christmas, and thoughts might occasionally stray back to work and the to-do list which didn’t quite get done. But after lunch on Christmas Day we can finally breathe…
The age of exposure is exposed – Part 2 This is the second part of a two part series that looks at the confused sexual ethic of our society and why God’s way works. Part 1 can also be found on the church web site. Dead Men Walking Anyone who held a traditional view on marriage, for example, was rejected as a…