My wife is having a little bub in March – and so we are reading up a whole stack of information about these little wonders.  I decided recently that I would always write up a book review whenever I read a book.  So as weird as it seems – here is my “baby book review.” 

In 1881 Chancellor Bismarck of Germany had a brilliant idea – people should be able to retire from their work at the age of 70.  They could receive care from the state because due to their invalidity to work (due to age and or disability) they could now be free from this heavy obligation.  The law was passed in 1889.  This was the first pension system in the world, and the USA modelle

When someone proposes something new, we often find many reasons NOT to do it.  It is our human nature to maintain the status quo, some kind of automatic momentum of doing the same thing.

Prayer is not magic.  (I hope I explain this right)  In just the same way you wouldn’t expect holding your tongue right to move God, neither is there power in just saying a prayer – at least not if your faith is in the prayer.

What I’m trying to say is that our faith must be in God Himself, and prayer is how we express that faith.  But if our faith is in the concept of praying – then it’s a bit like thinking prayer is some magic formula or silver bullet.  That’s not how it works. 

“Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.  For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.” 1 Peter 2:18–19

It has been 222 years today since Captain Arthur Philip from England and 11 ships landed in Botany Bay in Sydney.  On that boat was Australia’s first minister Rev Johnson from the Anglican Church who was also chaplain to the prisoners.  A lot has happened in the last 222 years.  Isn’t life amazing!!

John Lennon was onto something, but He just never ealised that His dreams w

All over the world people exert energy and effort in an attempt to make themselves “right” or “good enough.”

Here are some examples:

The word Jerusalem means “City of Peace” and many of us have for many years referred to Jerusalem as the City of Peace.  Recently however I was thinking about this and I realised that in the history of Israel, there has hardly been a period of time in its history that it has actually had any peace. 

So the burning question is, how can it be a city of peace if it doesn’t have any?

Our youngest son David Elijah found a $50 note in the ATM machine at the Bouldercombe Fuel Station on Tuesday morning.  I think he thought it was amazing to be holding such a large amount of money. 

Some poor person (perhaps a pensioner, or someone unemployed) either forgot to collect their money, or didn’t take all of their money.  Either way $50 is a lot to miss, and also a lot of money for someone who is only 8 years old.