Latest Ideas

• Hannah Ploegstra
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• 23 November 2015

According to the logic of the gospel, forgiveness makes perfect sense. It’s an impeccably rational response to sin; if I’ve been forgiven by God, it is only right that I forgive my brother from the heart (Matt 18:21-35).

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• Di Warren
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• 20 November 2015

I used to think I had nothing in common with Michelle Bridges, certainly not in terms of carbohydrate intake or BMI. But after hearing Carmelina Read speak on training at the recent EQUIP Leaders Conference, I realized I was wrong.

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• Ian Carmichael
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• 19 November 2015

Now that my kids are all grown up, it’s hard to say exactly which ages and stages I enjoyed most as a parent. There were different things to enjoy all the way through. And there still are, of course, now that they are adults.

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• Sandy Grant
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• 18 November 2015

Sandy Grant's links of the week on what it means to stand with someone, zealotry for kindness, a story about John Chapman, American exceptionalism, and depression.

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• Mark Gilbert
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• 17 November 2015

If one person asks a question aloud, then usually there are a lot more people wondering the same but without a chance to ask! Hear are my answers to some great questions a student at a theological college asked me about talking with Catholics about Jesus.

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• Timothy Raymond
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• 16 November 2015

I did not grow up in a church which practised the singing of the Psalms. Growing up, I split my time between two churches with two distinctly different styles of music. The first was a large, very traditional Baptist church that cherished the folksy revival hymns of the late 19th century. Songs such as In the Garden, The Old Rugged Cross, and Softly and Tenderly still bring back memories of my childhood. Then in high school I got connected with a rockin’ charismatic youth group.

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• Mike Leite
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• 13 November 2015

Now, before you rightly rebuke me for misquoting Jesus and James, let me explain what I mean by “let your yes be no”. I think too often in ministry, be it paid or lay, we automatically say yes to things instead of saying no. While this isn’t always a bad thing, it does become a major problem when we too easily become doers for Christ instead of followers of Christ.

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• Ian Carmichael
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• 12 November 2015

At a Christmas Day church service I attended some years ago, the service leader started reading what he thought was a pretty humorous debunking of the “Santa delivering toys to every home on Christmas Eve” story.

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• Sandy Grant
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• 11 November 2015

Sandy Grant's links on religion and meanness, radicalism, parenting special needs children, reformed irenics, liberal political methods, and knowing youth group members by name.

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• Christine Bransdon
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• 10 November 2015

The Australian government has recently announced that we will receive at least 12,000 Syrian refugees into our community. With countries across the world receiving more and more refugees, I want the church body to be prepared and ready to love and care for those who will soon be joining us.

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