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My great, great grandfather, Thomas Macindoe, lived in Glasgow, Scotland over 150 years ago. One day his flatmate showed him a photo of pretty girl. Thomas was impressed and kept teasing, asking to meet the girl. His friend said, 'No. She's mine'. And then. One Sabbath morning my fellow lodger asked if I would go with him to the church he attended, and I had no objection ...

It was totally ordinary. I was driving away from our house, as I have done thousands of times before, listening to music on the Christian radio station, HOPE 103.2. Next on cue was a devotion - Linda Bailey. Never heard of her. She had a sweet voice. I didn't want to listen to a sweet voice. 'Nup', I thought, 'I'm out of here. Time to change the channel'. But I didn't. I...

In 1644 French philosopher, Rene Descartes, wrote his Principles of Philosophy and penned in Latin three simple words that changed the world: 'Cogito, ergo sum'. Descartes was trying to doubt everything and thereby examine what he considered the foundation for true knowledge. His conclusion - translated into English: 'I think, therefore I am'. Those words helped lay the ...

One of our highlights these holidays was getting two rabbits from the Chong's newly bred litter. I've been assured that they're both female although my confidence was somewhat undermined by the frequency Jade was cross-checking her phone and consulting Eli about their gender. Two weeks on since welcoming the rabbits into our home and I'm questioning our decision. Our r...

We've done it again! The PennoLife miracle is complete for another year. Who's going to lead? Will the theme work? What about decorating the church? Will anyone come? Will they be glad they came? It takes so much planning and teamwork. It all seems too much but every year God blesses us with a small miracle. Why bother? Here are three things that motivate us: To Bless ...

A friend sent me a Christmas cartoon that tickled my fancy. A serious looking psychologist sits on a chair holding a notepad and pen, with four other characters facing him. Above them is a banner, 'CHRISTMAS GROUP THERAPY'. They share their struggles. Santa says, 'I don't believe in myself'. The Snowman bemoans, 'I think I'm bi-polar'. Rudolf complains, 'All the other rein...

If you've ever been on a driving holiday you will have clocked up a few kilometres, passed through numerous towns, and hopefully seen some wonderful sights. On a driving holiday you're always 'passing through'. You might book a hotel room, eat a meal or two, buy some petrol, but the impact you make on each town is minimal. I'm sure the locals are glad that you visited and ...

'Don't worry. These plans are set in stone'. It's what you might say when something is fixed, immutable, unchangeable. Paper is soft; computer data subject to manipulation; pictures fade. But when something is set in stone well, stone is hard, permanent it ain't gonna change, is it? A few years back I poured a concrete base on the side of our house for a water tank. Befo...

Growing up in a western country, I've seen my fair share of superhero movies. They're all pretty similar in plot, but we keep going back to watch them again and again, because who doesn't like a good hero? And who doesn't like being a hero? Over the course of my time in Nepal, one topic kept popping up again and again in our discussions: how do we help so that it does...

In 1951 the King of Nepal opened his country's borders to Christian missionaries. In 2015 that door was closed as Nepal declared itself a secular state. Despite this, the Nepalese Church remains one of the fastest growing in the world. It often seems as if God has abandoned His people and that the world is winning the battle. But being here in Nepal and seeing all that ...