In the year 1422 the King of France, Charles VI, died. As his successor, Charles VII, took the throne the following declaration was made “Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!” Or,…
6 Steps to Countering a Narrative of Fear
Welcome to Australia. A nation of contrasting landscapes, people and politics. Where we perform welcome to country at most major events, yet the traditional owners struggle for legitimacy and recognition on their…
Why, as a Christian Pastor, I Support Marriage Equality
I am a happily married, heterosexual man with a tribe of children (seven, to be precise). I am also, amongst other things, a Christian Pastor. I hang out, meet and work with…
Fed By the Hope of Today
Awakened by grief. The sun yet to break. Lying in darkness. Trailers appear.
Regarding the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus
Warning: Spoiler Alert! Our 10-year old recently had a tooth fall out, and she asked my wife outright “is the tooth fairy real?”
Migration is a Solution, Not a Problem
8 things a whirlwind trip across the United States revealed and reminded me about welcome In the last two weeks of April 2016, I had the opportunity to travel across the United…
When Fear Trumps Fact
As the dust begins to settle on Australia’s 2016 federal election, concerns are being raised about one of the clear outcomes – the return of Pauline Hanson and One Nation. The political…
When the Dog-Whistle Sounds, We All Get Bitten
Politicians who use fear and division for point scoring in the hope that it will get them re-elected would do well to remember that they have a migrant story too. For when…
Truly, Love is the Final Fight
Visiting the Center for Civil and Human Rights today has impacted and renewed my resolve to love more, fear less and refuse to settle for mediocrity. I am inspired and humbled by…
Love in the Midst of Angry Mobs
I am a product of multiculturalism and grace. The grandson of an Imam, the son of a Muslim and the cousin, nephew, uncle, and friend to many other Muslims. I am also the…
3 Things I Learnt From My Year of Love
2015 was my Year of Love. That was the theme, the focus and foundation. I wrote about it, thought about it, was challenged by it and used it to guide my decisions.…
Love risks failure
How would you rate your appetite for risk? A) Risk averse. Nothing ventured, nothing lost. B) Rational risk. Let’s weigh up all the pro’s and con’s and determine the likely benefit and…
What my daughter’s wedding taught me about Christian leadership
Three days ago our eldest daughter got married. Today, I am an emotional and physical train wreck. What a day. What a fortnight. What a life! Not much went to plan.
Love overcomes…
When our youngest child, Jireh, was born and we received a diagnosis of Down syndrome our involuntary and instant response was shock and fear. The 15 minutes that followed were one of…
The Unforgiving
In the prayer Jesus taught His disciples, He instructs them to pray this (Matthew 6:12 ESV): And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Have you ever considered…
Forgiveness: forgetting, condoning or releasing?
I was listening to a radio interview with Rosie Batty, the 2015 Australian of the Year. In that interview she explains that she has forgiven her ex-partner for killing their son, and…
“… but, I love you.”
As a parent I am increasingly aware of the power of my words over my kids. What I say and how I say it, can have a profound impact. I am also…
Just have a nap already! (He makes me lie down in green pastures…)
Have you ever tried to put a two year old down for a nap? Maybe this is not your stage of life. Maybe you’ve been there, done that. Maybe this is your…
“Mawwiage is wot bwings us togeva today”
One of my favourite movies of all time is The Princess Bride. I’m not sure what that says about me, but there it is. One of the classic scenes in the movie…
Love invites itself over for lunch
When was the last time you invited yourself to someone else’s place for a meal? Have you ever done it? If yes, was your self-initated invitation with someone you know, or a…