Life

How not to overeat this Christmas – according to science
How not to overeat this Christmas – according to science

Research suggests that not only do people put on weight more quickly during the festive season but that those pounds can be tricky to shift.

Parents should encourage their kids to believe in God even if they don't, psychologist recommends
Parents should encourage their kids to believe in God even if they don't, psychologist recommends

A decline in religion is a factor in the prevalence of depression and anxiety among children, believes psychoanalyst and parenting coach Erica Komisar.

12-year-old boy praying to be adopted says he's trusting in the Lord
12-year-old boy praying to be adopted says he's trusting in the Lord

A 12-year-old boy who has been waiting four years to be adopted had nothing but good things to say about God when he sat down for a TV interview recently.

When we feel like we're drowning in the storm
When we feel like we're drowning in the storm

When I was growing up, someone once asked "what would be the worst way to die." My response, "drowning." The older I get and the more I have time to think on my response, the more I realize how profound it actually was.

How to be thankful when you really aren't
How to be thankful when you really aren't

Firstly, we must stop waiting for the pages of our life to flip forward to the happily ever after we've imagined.

An alternative arrival: learning from Palm Sunday at Advent
An alternative arrival: learning from Palm Sunday at Advent

For all the nativity's yuletide dominance, the quirks of the Anglican Second Service lectionary nudged a different arrival story onto centre stage on the First Sunday of Advent: Jesus's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

Do we really know the Holy Spirit?
Do we really know the Holy Spirit?

One of the problems in my own walk has been a lack of intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

Revival can come at any moment
Revival can come at any moment

At the right hour, God will open the floodgate and release the cleansing river into society. This was the promise of Jesus.

How slowing down can help us to get further
How slowing down can help us to get further

To slow down and occasionally to stop altogether appears counterintuitive in a world where there is always something to do. The question is – how much are we actually getting done running at full speed and what is the cost?

Why we're putting a red dragon in our nativity scene
Why we're putting a red dragon in our nativity scene

I imagine some of you will be shocked that we have decided to add such a grim character to our sweet nativity scene but it actually comes straight out of the Bible in Revelation Chapter 12.

Christians should be 'generous' about people's preferred pronouns, says JD Greear
Christians should be 'generous' about people's preferred pronouns, says JD Greear

Megachurch pastor JD Greear thinks Christians should be generous when it comes to how to address transgender people.

Depression: men far more at risk than women in deprived areas
Depression: men far more at risk than women in deprived areas

Men living in the most deprived areas were 51% more likely to experience depression than those living in areas that were not deprived. Interestingly, the results did not reach statistical significance in women.

How to guard your attention in a world full of distractions
How to guard your attention in a world full of distractions

We know that we are supposed to treat our finances, gifts and talents, close relationships, career, and time as if they belong to the Lord. Yet, there is one spiritual commodity of coveted value in the 21st century that many of us have not yet placed under the umbrella of Christ's lordship. This is our attention.

It's hard to take no for an answer, even when it's from God
It's hard to take no for an answer, even when it's from God

There are times when 'no' is the best answer for us, even if we don't realise it at the time.

We shouldn't be surprised if we are rejected by this world
We shouldn't be surprised if we are rejected by this world

If we really don't conform to the pressures and standards of this world, then we shouldn't expect to feel loved by this world.

We ignore the church fathers at our peril
We ignore the church fathers at our peril

Our church fathers shaped Christianity as we know it, and handed us clearly articulated explanations of doctrines including the Trinity and Christ's nature. Yet we still seem to ignore them.