Features

THE BIBLE tells us that wise men (perhaps astrologers) came from the East looking for the child born King of the Jews (Matt 2:1,2). Finally when they found the child Jesus they knelt down and paid him homage. They then opened their treasure chests and offered gifts of gold, frankincense (an expensive perfume), and myrrh (cosmetic fragrance) (Matt 2:11). That ...

JOURNEY READERS are probably familiar with the stories from the Acts of the Apostles in which God speaks to those who will listen, telling Philip to go along the Gaza road, Ananias to go to Saul, Cornelius to fetch Simon Peter and Peter not to hesitate but to go to the Centurion’s house. If there is a prophetic gift inhearing ...

THE APOSTLE Paul promised the churches in need of good leadership in his day that “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the ...

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC University (ACU) has launched a new partnership with ecumenical Church research group, NCLS Research. NCLS Research comprises of the Uniting Church NSW/ACT Board of Mission, Anglicare Sydney, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, and now ACU. Best known for its five‐yearly National Church Life Surveys, NCLS Research has interests in developing healthy churches, growing sustainable leaders, and connecting churches and ...

CHRISTMAS IS a time of giving. But what plagues my mind every December is what do you give the person who has everything? When I look at my Dad I see a man who has it all. He is financially stable so if he wants something he’ll just go out and buy it himself. This makes finding a Christmas gift for ...

AUSTRALIANS ARE great gift givers. Australian Bureau of Statistics research (Festive Facts and Figures 2008) showed Australians spending $18.12 billion at retailers during December 2007. Despite the global financial crisis and interest rate rises last year, The Australian said we spent over $20 billion on credit cards alone over the festive season. We are generous too. According to the Australian ...

There is plenty of talk about body image issues in young women but men can also be prone to having low self esteem and self worth. We find out how some Australian Christian men perceive their own bodies and to ask whether physical appearance relates to a person’s potential. Jonathan Foye: 24, freelance journalist and a Uniting Church Chaplaincy Associate, ...

Western culture has tended to divide life into physical, mental, and emotional. Jesus, however, speaks of an abundant life, a total experience from the giver of life. If men are reticent about going to their doctor about routine physical health at the best of times, where do they find a GP in regards to spiritual and emotional health? In church ...

Why illness is not weaknessTHE AUSTRALIAN Bureau of Statistics states that men have an average life expectancy of 78 years old, around five years less than women. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men can expect to live around 17 years less than that. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) for men living in rural and remote ...

With six Australian delegates attending the International Rural Churches Association’s (IRCA) 4th Quadrennial conference held in Germany in September, Australia has shown that when it comes to rural ministry, we have a lot to teach as well as learn. Indeed IRCA had an Australian, Rev Lloyd Vidler, at the helm as Chairperson in its early days. The 2010 Conference centred ...