Let’s settle this upfront: There is no substitute for full-cream milk. It tastes better, it froths better, it keeps you feeling fuller for longer. In every way, full-cream milk is the most rewarding kind of dairy beverage to have in your life. There are those who opt for the lite version of this luscious liquid. […]
Worship
God Chaser
I first heard this song “God Chaser”, by David and Nicole Binion, as a teenager. In the mid-90s, an era of kippers, nightclubbing and emergent R&B music, this song crept onto my radar. I was an eager adolescent at the time, firey about God and passionate about worshipping him. I listened to the lyrics […]
God as a Haven
The Bible uses some lovely metaphors to describe God: God as a fountain of living water, Jesus as the bread of life, the Father as a mother. One of my favourite types of metaphors for God is the use of place. Here are a few quick examples: “I will say of the Lord, […]
Writing “Haven”
Three years ago I contracted salmonella poisoning in Europe. Exotic, right? I was hounded by relentless nausea for the first three days, accompanied by chills and other joys not appropriate for public consumption. Even though I started to get better after a few days, it is fair to say that I was not myself […]
Resisting Rest
It’s heartbreaking watching people burn out. I routinely witness friends in the church burn out over and over, especially those in paid ministry. It’s almost as though someone put “Must do everything for everybody until burnout is inevitable” in their job descriptions. There are many factors that can contribute to burnout. Overwork, underwork, unrealistic job […]
Come to the Garden
Come to the Garden There was a young lady in Sydney, Who’s lifestyle was terribly busy, Til one day inside her, She heard a small whisper: “Come to the garden with Me. “My garden’s a place for refreshing, An oasis from worldly enmeshing. The air will revive you; It’s beauty inspire you; Come to […]
Not A Silent Night
Ever think about the words to some of the Christmas songs we hear this time of year? I was thinking about Silent Night recently, in particular these well-known lyrics: “Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is quiet. . .” The song goes on to describe a very pregnant Mary and the birth of […]
No Fear in Death
A friend of mine died recently. He was a member of our church and sang on the worship team. I didn’t know him all that well, however I had served with him on the worship team so I knew him a little. I found out last weekend at church that he had died. We – […]
Joyful, Joyful
“Joyful, joyful, Lord we adore Thee. . .” This poem written by Henry van Dyke perfectly encapsulates the act of corporate worship. While worship can be a serious, somber, reverent experience, it can also be a joyful one. All too often in our churches we focus on the former and restrict the latter. But I […]
Worship as a Window
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the nature of authentic worship. It is a mark of courage when one embraces the worship of God as He truly is. Such worship will inevitably bring us toward an encounter with our own true selves. It is an adventure not for the faint-hearted. Worship can act as […]