This post was first published on Christians for Biblical Equality’s Arise blog, in the wake of the discussions which arose about domestic and family violence (DFV) in Christian homes since journalists Julia Baird and Hayley Gleeson published this controversial report: “‘Submit to your husbands’: Women told to endure domestic violence in the name of God.” Responses from… Continue reading A Letter to My Friend – A Domestic Abuse Survivor
Category: reflection
Women’s Ordination in the Lutheran Church of Australia: A Prayerful Reflection
Yesterday, the Lutheran Church of Australia voted on the ordination of women once again, returning a vote of 240 in favour to 161 against. The vote failed to reach the required two-thirds majority. Many of our Lutheran brothers and sisters are mourning today as the impact of this decision sinks in, and as Paul encouraged… Continue reading Women’s Ordination in the Lutheran Church of Australia: A Prayerful Reflection
Christian Conferences and the Danger of a Single Story
It’s Christian conference season in Perth. The marketing of a particular pair of men’s and women’s conferences caught my eye because of the strong gender stereotypes portrayed. The promotional material for the women’s event is a soft, fuzzy blue and pink. It’s titled “The Essential Wardrobe: Clothed With Love” and the conference speakers traced the… Continue reading Christian Conferences and the Danger of a Single Story
Change is Difficult – Reflections on Galatians 3:28
Here’s a confession – I’m not always too fond of change. Not too long ago, I bought a new drink bottle that caused me a bit of trouble to start with. It sucks the water up through a straw. It took me a while to get it into my head that I had to hold… Continue reading Change is Difficult – Reflections on Galatians 3:28
Easter Women – a Resurrection Sunday Reflection
*This is not by any means an exegetical piece. It is more in the nature of a fictitious retelling of the events of the first Good Friday and Easter Sunday from the imagined perspective of the women at the tomb and cross. Some details come directly from Scripture, some are creative licence … Sunday morning creeps… Continue reading Easter Women – a Resurrection Sunday Reflection
Mary, Did You Know?
Parenthood is a (presumably lifelong) state of wishing and hoping, what-ifs and wondering. It starts with pregnancy. What if something goes wrong? Let’s not tell anyone until we reach the “magic” three month mark. What sex will my baby be? Will I be a good parent? How much is labour going to hurt? After the… Continue reading Mary, Did You Know?
His Grace is More Than Enough
A little while back, I was listening to a YouTube compilation of the “Top 100 Praise and Worship Songs of 2015.” The last song to play repeatedly assured, “Your grace is enough, Your grace is enough.” Extravagant grace We love stories of God’s extravagant grace – a long-term drug user and dealer who has a… Continue reading His Grace is More Than Enough
Eshet Chayil (Part 4) – When Courage Becomes Personal
This is the last in a series of posts on the Hebrew phrase eshet chayil. Find post 1 in this series here, post 2 here and post 3 here. Sometimes, it’s personal. It really is. Recognising that Christian women must have courage at least equal to that of men touches very deeply on my own personal… Continue reading Eshet Chayil (Part 4) – When Courage Becomes Personal
God's Design - Perth 