Blogging Resurgence!

Hello to any of you who may find this final blog post.

I wrote here on Life of an Ordinary Aussie Woman for around seven years; from 2013 till 2020.

Along with COVID-19 my life became turned upside down in many other ways.

I've taken what's now been almost two years to heal and find both myself and a way forward once again.

Both myself and children are doing really well and the desire to write and post on my blog to connect with others has returned, yet writing here doesn't feel quite right...

So I am beginning a new Blog called 'Life of an Ordinary Aussie Woman: Moving Forward'.

Look forward to connecting with you over there.

In grace and peace, Melanie.

Punishment in a Plastic-Perfect World:

There is real danger when we not only believe others think the same as us, we expect them to, and therefore when we realise they don't, punish them by breaking communication due to our own false, self-righteousness pride.

Today ignoring others and discarding precious people is the punishment served by those who think their own life is ‘plastic-perfect’. And yes, this can include some Christians.

I’m not saying there isn’t a time to wisely walk away from some discussions which would gain nothing more than mutual animosity. And please be aware, this is not a post either promoting, multi-faith worship and/or multi-spiritual communion!

I’m talking about times when people (even Christians) ignore the genuine efforts others (including other Christians) make to connect; the times when people just don’t even bother. The problem is this attitude does not come from a soft heart where real love can grow. It comes from a hard heart (a plastic heart), and ultimately a place of pride.

Believe me, I know how easy it can be to make excuses in one’s head to avoid doing what our conscience actually knows is right! Excuses like; I’m too busy right now…I’ll just leave it to God…or I have more important things to do!

Yes, excuses are made to avoid the more loving and therefore difficult task of connecting, and having honest, peaceful, non-aggressive, difficult conversations.

The raw, the real, the un-pretty, the awkward, just don’t fit into a plastic-perfect schedule, and take precious time away from the beautiful life so many want to have and portray…Yet, discarding and rejecting others in my opinion has never been more prevalent and is the cause of so much loneliness and isolation.

Today so many people cut-off the very means to actually having a more meaningful life…real (sometimes messy) relationships.

While conflict is awful, we need to ask ourselves honestly what we’re doing or have done to contribute? Are we guilty of feeling frustrated and putting the person down, or just ignoring and disrespecting them all together…?

And as Christians, how honestly are we looking at ourselves in the mirror of truth?

Yes, there are times when we should walk away, take a break, or even cease a relationship permanently. But this should never be done lightly, or too quickly.

We need to be open to growing and examining our own heart through genuine prayer, and devotional scripture reading. For this is the real mirror of truth.

Sometimes we can even get to a place of thinking we know what scripture says, so we find another Christian person for accountability and neglect the discipline of devotionally engaging with Jesus through His remaining Word. Accountability partners are fine, but if we’re honest we usually choose people who don’t really challenge us.

We need to STOP doing everything else we prefer to do and simply pray honestly, and read the Bible again and again and again in complete vulnerability. It is only then we will have our hearts softened and strengthened to obey His holy and loving ways.

Plastic will melt in the fire of scripture and will be able to be remodeled.

The truth is our efforts are like filthy rags compared to the only Righteous One, Jesus Christ. All our good deeds and acts of charity, when done to only those who make us comfortable are mostly a way to please ourselves and make us comfortable in this world…

We must reject the way of this world, for to live this way is to be an enemy of God.

True peace and love will only be found living in humble submission to the complete Word of God which thankfully still remains in our Bibles so far (just read footnotes too).

Submission to Jesus requires we know His instructions for us today, which we find in the New Testament.

To understand our purpose, we need to understand the grand narrative of mankind and God’s heart, which we learn from studying Genesis through to Revelation.

Remember the forgiveness of sins is necessary for a relationship with God, for it is our sins that separate us from Him. And forgiveness is freely available through a genuine prayer of repentance and committing your whole self to living with and for Jesus.

But…this is just the beginning. What is required after the forgiveness of sins and commitment to Jesus as Lord??

Micah 6:8 tells us, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

The command is not to do ‘ministry’…

You see, God does not desire our religious observances. No, he does not desire plastic-perfection. He desires our hearts and soft hearts at that! He desires people to love and support one another, to not use and discard one another, or ignore others when they feel inconvenienced.

To Do Justice = We should continue to do what is right towards others and for others. Yes, we should care about others, even those whom we struggle with and never see face-to-face…even those we sometimes think we are better than! We should continue to fight for Christian-Judeo biblical morality.

To Love Kindness = This is not just being kind. This is a command to LOVE kindness. When we love something we nurture it and live with it. Kindness should be a part of who we are as Christians, a part of our character. We need to ask ourselves at times, how truly kind are we? How willing to be challenged and inconvenienced are we?

To Walk Humbly with God = This is not simply walking in humility, for even those who belong to false religions of the enemy can walk humbly putting others first and obediently to commands. The command is to walk humbly with God. But this is not the external acts of ‘good deeds’.

It’s the private acts like genuine heartbreaking prayer, confession, forgiveness, obedience to scripture when no-one is looking, and allowing Him to personally grow us through difficult times and experiences by remaining faithful. It’s NOT becoming more educated and liberal in theology, it is becoming more like Jesus until He returns or we leave this earth.

If we know scripture, we know that nowhere is there an allowance for us to pick and choose verses, or interpretations we prefer to suit our own often hard ‘plastic’ hearts.

We would know of the warnings regarding punishment coming for those who change one word, or twist it to suit their own desires or to manipulate others!

It truly can be so difficult to pray for the strength to obey when we desire the complete opposite…to run the other way, to ignore, to disrespect, to argue, to listen to the smooth talkers, to win the day…

But, Jesus said if we love Him we will obey Him.

And the second great commandment after loving God first, is loving others as ourselves…so the next time we feel like ignoring someone, or disrespecting someone you think is lesser-than, let‘s ask ourselves if we would appreciate it happening to us?

Remember, everything here will fade away and we all will stand before Him with no righteousness of our own…

We need His righteousness.

His robes.

His Word.

His life.

So let us strive to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with Him, after we have repented from having a plastic heart.

Let’s us not punish others who think differently by ignoring them because of pride and self-righteousness. No, let us not discard people like used goods…

And if we should find ourselves one day, like a discarded plastic mannequin, may we place our hardened, plastic-self, into the fire of scripture to be remodeled…But not into an image that is pleasing the world, rather into the likeness of Him who alone is pleasing, and that is Jesus.

Let us reject the punishment of a plastic-perfect world. Let us reject arguing, slandering, ignoring and thinking we are so much better, and love God and each other in submission and humility.

In Christian love, Melanie.

Forgive them, anyway.

By now many of you would have seen the poem “Anyway” online which was written by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. This piece of poetry, aside from promoting moral living, ultimately promotes forgiving others because this is both a biblical and conditional command. The Bible is clear we need to forgive because firstly, we have been forgiven and secondly we need to continue to forgive because we too need continual forgiveness…And scripture doesn’t hold back on the serious implications for those who don’t forgive…it keeps them out of the Kingdom of God…So “Anyway” reads as follows:

“People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway.”

I, like many others I’m sure, love this poem for a couple of reasons. Firstly we know it's penned by someone who is legitimate in their life. Secondly, it is both so very honest and this makes it also truly encouraging. The honestly paired with determination to ‘do better’ despite what happens to everyone, is inspiring…

I really am encouraged by this poem, especially when I’m not facing any challenges! But to be really honest, both this poem and command Jesus gives us to forgive others, are really difficult to put into practice…

There are times when people really hurt you.

There are times when I am left shaking my head and feeling crushed. 

There are times when I really don’t like people….both people in general, and yes sadly even specific people.

There are times when it seems people are so blind and short-sighted, even uncaring because of their own bias…so self-centered and inwardly focused that they are unable to self-evaluate and then project unfair and unwarranted attacks on others…

There are days when we don’t even feel safe in our own homes, needing extra security and to implement safety plans, just in case someone does the wrong thing…but this is not to forget the cases of domestic violence and workplace incidents…

What about the times when people are so hurt and no-one cares enough to even call? Or the times when a best-friend or family member takes advantage of you, time and time again? Or when you finally get a break and people still don’t congratulate you, or worse still make a cynical remark?

And the days where you actually can’t stand the world anymore and don’t want to get out of bed…?

The truth is, there are times like this for all of us…yes, all of us. Even the people you may not know personally and whom you believe have the ‘perfect life’…yes, the ones you falsely believe nothing bad ever happens to…

These times are unfair. These times are the worst. These times are impossible for us in our own strength to find forgiveness in our hearts. And in truth, some people never forgive and therefore never find the freedom and release it would bring them…

Sometimes we can find forgiveness a bit easier when we practice seeing things from where the other person may be in their own life, or by focusing on all the good things we still have in our own life which promotes good self-esteem and empathy for the offender…we may even begin to feel a bit ‘sorry’ for the other person…

That being said, there are still times when our efforts just aren’t enough…the hurt just keeps coming up and coming up, time and time again. The offense, the hurt, the wound, the betrayal, and so on, is just all too much to bear.

We need Jesus.

We need his love and help to truly forgive and be free from the hurt and bitterness…

The commandment He gives is clear, Matthew 6:14-15 (CEV)  “14 If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

We need to pray and continue to pray for the ability to truly forgive and to truly let go of our hurts….for what is impossible for us on our own, is not with God! (Luke 18:27).

I was recently encouraged by a wonderful story by ‘Entertainment Tonight’ in the US which tells the story of Patricia Heaton’s visit with World Vision to meet a Rwandan woman who decided to forgive the man that killed her family. (See here on ET Facebook).

The impact of the decision the woman made is so far reaching into the lives of all involved, their families, and even Patricia Heaton. I truly hope it encourages you in your own life and in your decisions to forgive…to let go and to ‘let God’ handle the deal with the situation and your healing.

Love Mel.

VALENTINE'S DAY 2019

I often find myself reflecting quite deeply on February the 14th each year. Yes, this often results in a blog post here on Life of an Ordinary Aussie Woman…The reason, I think is because love and life, or life and love, can be such a mine field of mixed emotions for so many of us…

It’s the one day of each year where love, whether it be romantic or committed or both, is thrust onto center stage. It’s there in our faces, no matter how hard we try to ignore it, or sleep the day away…it’s simply still there on our calendars…

It’s a day where we may grieve the loss of loved ones, our singleness, or even poor past choices…

It can be a day where we could feel alone, jealously, anger, bitterness, or resentment…

It can be a day for some where they hide away, or wear a mask, or get drunk and send an inappropriate message…

It can be a day for some to build resilience and face the day while being single in boldness…

It can be a day for single parents to give a gift to their child or children, or single best-friend…

It can be a day for some to pretend their personal relationship is all they hoped for…

It can for some, be a day of healing…

Or it can be a day for some to be overwhelmingly thankful and shower extra attention on their spouse…

And, it can be a mixture of any of these or more…and that’s okay.

Valentine’s Day for me this year has been a real mixture of different emotions, as I’ve reflected, processed, and CHOSEN to love my family.

And while I know we should love those closest to us EVERY DAY, I still choose to acknowledge my nearest and dearest (especially my hubby) each Valentine’s Day because TRUE LOVE isn’t about me.

TRUE LOVE is humble and sacrificial. TRUE LOVE is kind, patient and giving. TRUE LOVE is putting ourselves second, and also being gracious enough to accept it in return.

And without TRUE LOVE, romantic gestures are sadly just superficial and done in vain…

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone, and I hope you know the true love of Jesus, first and foremost – For without Him we have no hope of giving or receiving TRUE LOVE from anyone else because we only love because HE FIRST LOVED US (1 John 4:19).

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU’VE FOUND THE RIGHT PERSON TO MARRY: 5 questions to consider.

Marriage is hard.

Really hard. But it’s also a wonderful blessing, so it’s really important that we’re wise in discerning if the person we’ve met or are possibly dating is someone right for us to marry.

Marriage is a big commitment. There’s no option to just move-out discreetly with dignity intact, when you’ve made the public and legally binding obligation to become someone’s spouse. 

It’s true, no matter how civil and mature you both may handle the situation, marriage is always bigger than the two of you, and the painful ripples of separation and divorce go so much further than we could ever imagine, until experiencing it for ourselves… 

Yes, it’s a lot harder than living with someone.

The legal web of separating and dividing EVERYTHING is painful enough…but it’s not just assets. The rigmarole alone of changing your legal name, and furthermore to have it used by others is an emotional roller-coaster in itself… 

Yes, marriage is hard, as it comes with not only the cost of commitment, it involves true faith, risk and vulnerability. Marriage is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. It can be the worst when it was never right to begin with and also the best when based on friendship, commitment and compatibility… 

I’ve heard many people say the first year of a new marriage is the most difficult and I would say eighteen months into my second, I agree. But thankfully this time around I was much wiser, thanks to God, and I made a much, much, better choice. And so, I want to write this post to hopefully help someone else. It’s based upon what I’ve learned over 17 years in my first marriage, five years of singleness, a courtship in my late, late 30s and now eighteen months of marriage. Let me know if it helps you, I’d love to know! 

How to know if you’ve found the right person to marry: 5 questions to consider.

1. Do I really like this person?

The first and most important question is this. Do I like this person? As in, do I really like this person for who they are, their personality, core values and for how they value and treat me? Ask yourself, is this a person I actually WANT to be friends with? It’s important to realise that REALLY liking someone is different to infatuation because infatuation is selfish and consuming, whereas REALLY liking someone is respectful and healthy. 

Don’t ask yourself, is this someone I could fall in love with? Because we can often associate lust, sex, and romantic illusions with love. I have found some people get caught up in the whole ‘sexual attraction’ topic. When in real-life, if you REALLY like someone first, you’ll probably find yourself sexually attracted to them soon enough, even if you weren’t at first sight! 

When you ask yourself, do I like this person, this is not meaning whether you consider this person a friend! If someone is in your ‘friend zone’ they will probably stay there. 

Ask yourself, is this someone I would spend time with, even if I received no material benefits? Ask yourself, is this someone I honestly believe I will still REALLY like and consider a cool person in five or more years? Everyone changes and grows, do you really like this person enough to change and grow with them for the rest of your life? 

You need to consider if you really like this person, or whether they are just filling a void? Loneliness for example, is difficult to endure and can be countered with a healthy relationship, but it cannot be the reason you are in a relationship with someone. Marrying someone to meet a need such as loneliness, financial pressure, to provide your children with ‘another parent’, or to counter the fear of being single ‘forever’, and so on and so on, is actually selfish, and will most likely ultimately result in heartache for the other person and great disappointment for both. We can distract ourselves for a long time and convince ourselves of so many things when our heart is impatient and/or greedy, but eventually the carousel-ride stops and we get off. 

You really need to answer a complete YES to liking this person for who they completely are right now, because believe me, there will come days in your marriage when you’re hurt or upset at your spouse, and this foundation will help you through because the person you REALLY like is their usual disposition, not the one who has just upset you. If you never really liked the person to begin with, the problems which arise will become the catalyst for discontentment and contempt.



2. Do my family and trusted friends like this person?

A huge indicator as to whether or not you’ve found the right person

for you, is the approval from your close family (including your children if you have any) and friends. If they’re saying things that are negative about him/her in regards to their observations around how this person treats you, your children, or them when you’re not around, then this is a true RED-FLAG! You need to wisely consider their words as coming from people who love you, and consider you own possible bias and blindness. If their comments are negative due to vain things like the person’s occupation or assets, then that’s a different, materialistic or social-class concern, and it doesn’t mean the person isn’t genuine, likeable, or right for you.



3. Do our values align?

This is so important for a couple to make a lifelong commitment and solid life together. The Bible talks about people being “equally

yoked”. This comes from a long time ago when farmers would bind their oxen together with a wooden yoke. The two animals needed to plough the farmer’s field side-by-side. Your future field together in marriage is your home. Your home should be a safe and loving place for you and possibly your children and even grandchildren to spend time together. 

You need to marry someone you can work harmoniously with. This isn’t to say you won’t have difficult times, as these happen to everyone. The storms that will come will be difficult to endure, but indeed when you’re harnessed with a partner who works with you and not against you, the burden is shared. An example of two people being of the same religion is not what being equally yoked means. This allegory covers areas such as; spending and saving,

cleanliness, manners, forgiveness, reconciliation, ideologies, morals, health and fitness, use of medication, language used, generosity, children, dreams, interests, how to treat family, faith, theology, worldview and much more. What are your core values and do they align with this person’s?



4. Can I love this person?

In our western societies, it’s my opinion that it’s more helpful to think of love as a verb meaning commitment, rather than as

something we experience and feel, due to the fact the word love as a noun in English, has become so tainted. To consider if you are able to love this person in action, try considering some secondary, similar questions; Could I be faithful sexually to this person even if I was tempted? Could I stay with this person if they became ill? Could I forgive this person if they betrayed my trust or seriously hurt my feelings? Can I put this person first, before myself and others? This is a tough question to contemplate and shouldn’t be rushed.



5. Do I have peace?

This question is two-fold. Firstly ask yourself, do I have peace in my heart in being with this person? Is the relationship upfront, honest and without baggage? Are they still legally married – HUGE RED FLAG! Is there something pulling on your conscience because you know something isn’t right?

Secondly ask yourself, does this person bring me peace? Is this person someone you can be held by and receive nurturing, comfort, relaxation and love from? Life is hard and your future life-long spouse should be someone you can unwind and relax with. They should be someone whom you feel safe and peaceful with. 

I truly hope these five questions are helpful to you in considering whether or not the person you’ve met and are possibly now dating is the right person for you to marry. As a Christian in my own journey I also prayed a lot through this process. I would like to encourage you by saying that patience is a gift from God, and is one we must choose to receive. We’re always learning and growing closer to Jesus while discerning, even if the outcome isn’t one we’d hoped for. His plan is always better, so it’s really important that we don’t make a poor choice and that we listen and use wisdom. The wait is worth it and necessary, as marriage is hard, really hard but also a wonderful blessing.

Melanie.

Stevie Wonder: "Overjoyed": A hidden allegory?

I’ve recently been enjoying old classics from the infamous Stevie Wonder. His old songs are really uplifting and ‘feel good’, musically delightful and also diverse. The lyrics are great…”Isn’t she lovely…” “I just called to say I love you…” “Ohhh baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours…” “Superstition ain't the way”…

I can see you tapping your foot right now…Ahhh, morals, values, love and even God is sung about…

It’s the song however, ‘Overjoyed’ that led me to dig further into the person of Stevie Wonder, and asking Google, “Is Stevie Wonder a Christian?”

You see it’s the lyrics of ‘Overjoyed’ that I couldn’t help but hearing the voice of Jesus behind…

I even Google searched the ‘meaning’ to the song but only found an interpretation stating it’s the love between a man and woman…Yet my research said that Stevie had been a devoted Christian his whole life and so I’m wondering about a hidden allegory behind this song…bear with me because when you know scripture and the Gospels it seem VERY clear…Let me break it down, I think you’ll love it as I do. 


Over time, I've been building, my castle of love

Just for two, though you never knew you were my reason

I've gone much too far, for you now to say

That I've got to throw my castle away...

Jesus was the long awaited, promise Messiah. He came to love us into the Kingdom of God and assured His disciples and followers they would indeed each have their own ‘room’ in His Father’s house. He wants a personal, one-on-one relationship with each and everyone of us. Yes, he wants us to dwell in His castle of love. See, John 14.



Over dreams, I have picked out a perfect come true

Though you never knew it was, of you I've been dreaming.

The sandman has come from too far away, for you to say

come, back some other day... 

All our dreams cannot compare to what Jesus wants to gift us. He is the ultimate giver, who gives a gift of love that is incomparable to what we even dare to dream for ourselves. Jesus did come so far to become the bridge necessary for us to be reconciled to God as His children. Jesus was fully God and left His divinity to become a human being. He loved us and dreamed of us before we even knew. He offers salvation today and we need to repent and accept it and not send Him away for another day. The Kingdom of God has come near and is an open invitation to us all TODAY. See, Mark 1:15.



And though you don't believe that they do, they do come true,

For did my dreams, come true when I looked at you

And maybe too, if you would believe, you too might be

Overjoyed, over love, over me…

We may be so broken and hurt by this world, that we have become cynical. We may find it extremely difficult to even dare to believe that a love so genuine, real and trans-formative, is even possible. Yet if we dare to take a leap of faith we will find what we truly need…forgiveness, love, peace and incomparable JOY! Overjoyed and thankful over Jesus. See, Romans 5:1-2.


Over heart, I have painfully turned every stone

Just to find, I had found what I've searched to discover

I've come much too far for me now to find, the love that I 

sought can never be mine...

The Lord’s love, compassion and willingness to forgive is so amazing, Jesus willingly took the pain, suffering and death we should inherit as mortals because of our sin upon Himself as the only perfect substitute. He suffered and rose again because He is sinless. He rolled the stone away from His tomb, and will roll the stone away from our hearts so we can love and obey Him when we repent and commit ourselves to Him, in thankfulness and joy for the free gift He imparts. See, Hosea 11:8; Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53. Luke 24:1-6.


And though you don't believe that they do, they do come true

For did my dreams come true when I looked at you

And maybe too, if you would believe, you too might be

Overjoyed, over love, over me...


And though the odds say improbable, what do they know?

For in romance, all true love needs is a chance

And maybe with a chance you will find, you too like I

Overjoyed, over love, over you, over you… 


The Gospel is clear that what is impossible for man is not for God. There is no other way for peace and joy with God, except through repenting and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. We can never earn our way to God. The world may say the Gospel is improbable, but the Gospel is the Greatest Love Story of all time and all we need is the faith to pray and receive the best relationship of true godly love we will ever experience…a joy so incomparable. A love so pure. Human relationships are but a dim reflection at best… See, Luke 18:26-27; 1 Cor 1:18-30.

Yes, He is overjoyed when we repent and turn to Him and all the angels rejoice in heaven with Him…“Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10.

Do you agree 'Overjoyed' may be a hidden allegory from Stevie Wonder about the Gospel message?
Let me leave you with the song. God bless, Melanie.

Pastoral Care 4 Pastors?

With the recent news of an American Pastor taking his own life recently, many of us I’m sure felt shock, disbelief, and heartbreak alongside other emotions.

I’m also sure many of us would have thought… “Why would a Christian pastor with a loving young family take their own life? Surely that’s something only a ‘Judas’ would do?”

I’m sorry to write so bluntly, but I’m sure many of us would have been so shocked and thought just this, however good can come out of tragic circumstances if we keep soft hearts, and just keep talking from a place of love.

Having recently finished working in full-time paid pastoral ministry, and having mental illness in my family line, I would like to offer a small contribution to this conversation, as I read that “Depression is real with pastors. It seems to be pervasive.’ See,  '5 Reasons pastors get depression (and why they don't talk about it'.

Please note that what I’m about to write is solely based on my own experience and opinions. It is not therefore necessarily the ‘norm’ or the only advice or perfect solutions.

Back Story: As someone with mental illness in their family line, with immediate relatives having experienced anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders, depression, drug use and suicide along with other issues and often more than one issue at once, I know what mental illness can be like. Although I do not like it in any way, I’m also appreciative that today as family we can share about these problems openly. I just wish, still to this day that my own dad didn’t suicide.

As someone who has not only worked in a paid pastoral position, also for years in a voluntary capacity, I also know what a lack of pastoral care is like and what a wonderful necessary resource both good pastoral care and self-care is. Here are some of my thoughts for consideration to this now ‘world-wide’ discussion. I hope they could become both conversation starters and prayer points:

• Less Blame: A positive improvement within Christian groups is a less ‘blame orientated’ approach to mental illness. This is very helpful for Christians trying to live their life faithfully for Jesus, while working through their own personal ‘invisible’ issues. I know from personal experience that someone suffering from mental illness is not necessarily someone who is sinning, nor are they someone who has not dealt with something in their past. These could be factors certain individuals need addressing, however it’s presumptuous and arrogant to approach mental illness struggles in such a clinical, cold manner. People with these struggles need delicate pastoral care, understanding, someone to listen and empathy. They are already struggling, often not like themselves for their issues, so blame only makes things worse in their own minds. 

• Encouraging and Equipping: Contrary to what some may think, mental Illness struggles do not mean someone is unable to serve or work in a pastoral capacity. I’m personally of the opinion, from both personal experience and reading academic articles, that work is good for people with such struggles. Pastors may not share openly if they’re in a ‘bad patch’ with their elders, from a fear of being made to take time off. Enforced time off with no significant reason, is both disrespectful and inconsiderate. If anyone (pastor or not) shares that they’re having a ‘bad time’ and is not asking for time off, work will help them through it. Enforced time off could make a person feel they’re unable to manage their own mental health, and therefore add to the problem due to a lack of work to occupy their mind, and also creating a possible added financial strain. 

People with depression flairs need a reason to keep getting out of bed each day. People in a bout of poor mental illness often already know what they need as they’ve gotten through it before. What’s most needed is often simply a listening ear, and prayer. They do not need anything not asked for, even if you think it’s right; such as your advice, asking others to pray, notifying elders and so on. They need someone they can trust, who will remind them of all the wonderful things they have done, and who will encourage them by reminding them that God has good works still for them to do. They need to be encouraged and equipped, not burdened further and made to feel shame, embarrassment or like a failure. 

• Increased Empathy: For Christians who do not understand what mental illness is like, have you considered that pastors are not immune, not because of sin, rather because they are human and their own experiences with human fragility help them to be humble and empathetic. Think of St Paul with his ‘thorn’ and of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 that teaches us we experience suffering to know His comfort and therefore are able to comfort others. Many pastors are sensitive people. I know many pastors who rely on Jesus for their ministry everyday as it is very challenging for them. Let's not forget that many are able, like Jesus, to sympathise with others because of what they've experienced.

• Lack of Resources: This may seem like a strange point, given I’m writing as a Christian who lives in a first world country, but it has been my experience and here’s why:

For a start, being a Christian already limits the numbers of professional people available for Christian Pastors to talk through their issues with. I have honestly been met with the statement from more than one person, “You don’t need to debrief to a Christian, a professional psychologist is better than no-one!” To me as a mature Christian, this statement is honestly abhorrent. What do I have in common with an unbeliever? How could I share my issues and pastoral/theological concerns with someone who has no idea of scripture, theology, or a heart for God, others and prayer??? In a vulnerable state, why would I open myself up even more so to the enemy and unbiblical, liberal psychology?

In this situation I have been left to ‘find someone’ myself that I am comfortable with. However the next hurdle I have found is finding a mature, theologically-compatible Christian for faithful pastoral care. Just because someone is a Christian does not mean they are biblically sound and have the necessary life experience I need to be a suitable fit.

It is a challenge at times to find such a person but I do know The Lord provides for our needs, we just need to be persistent, prayerful and discerning in our search. Often having the assistance of others, or simply knowing we do is a good way for the burden to be shared.

I’ve observed that due to the lack of resources available to pastors oftentimes their wife or husband is their main pastoral carer. Sometimes this works great and other times it doesn’t due to a multitude of too many possible reasons to list here. We often assume other pastors would be a great resource, however they themselves are often in need, or I’m sorry to say, someone who is untrustworthy. Pastors are human and may possibly speak to others in the pastoral team about one’s concerns. You see, sometimes pastors want to appear to the church and their fellow pastors as ‘having it all together’ and/or as ‘spiritually mature’ and therefore don’t keep details shared private. Furthermore oftentimes pastors aren’t fully trained in Christian counselling and therefore are untrained for delivering professional Christian pastoral care/counselling/de-briefing sessions. 

To continue, in most scenarios, Pastors cannot be pastorally cared for by anyone in their own congregation. I know of many churches where this is not permitted. In all circumstances it’s dictated that Pastors need to be the one giving the pastoral care. They must be the bullet-proof, strong head of the flock. In Bible College I found this also to be the premise taught and encouraged. A Pastor is advised to pastorally care for others, with his/her own boundaries in place to protect themselves. While boundaries are necessary in ministry work, I think this absolute insistence is why most Pastors don’t have real friends close by they can call on outside of work hours. It’s why most take time off far away, alone. Isolated sabbatical is often referred to as necessary, like Jesus going away from the disciples to pray alone, and is actually mandated in some denominations, without asking the pastor what they would prefer.

Do we consider they already pray alone each day, and may be more extroverted, needing friends close by to have fun with? Yet this standard is not just issued from denomination apostles, I found it’s also an unspoken cultural norm in some congregations. I found some people treat pastors as commodities to serve their own needs. They desire a spiritually mature pastor they can call on in times and vent to…plus having the title of pastor is always handy when a referee is needed! This may sound harsh and cold but it has been my observation of some Christians. Being a pastor is often for many a lonely cross to bear…

Scripture is always our best guide, and while we often read of the disciples struggling, I also read of Jesus being friends with his disciples, being supported, encouraged and comforted by them. Furthermore I read this in the reports of tears by Paul and his fellow believers when leaving. The early church met in homes and shared everything. The clergy/laity divide is something the church invented for its own advantage and I believe has backfired.

• Spiritual Attack and Liberal Theology: Pastors minister on the front line, and it’s not disputed that they come under spiritual attack often. They need support and prayer daily. With more and more reports of poor mental health being presented by clergy we’re beginning to hear about this today more often. I’m not going to say why as that would be foolish. There could be many, many reasons for this and we simply do not have every answer. Some ideas regarding what seems to be a rise revolve around modern diets, lifestyles, or simply more people speaking out. Whatever the reason not all are just spiritual. Some are, let’s not ‘throw the baby out with the bath water’, so to speak…But let’s also not get so modern with our ideas that they become unbiblical and spiritual reasons are no longer even a possibility. And please let’s not get so liberal that ‘suicide’ is a valid Christian option! Or heaven-forbid we become so liberal that the theology of suffering is considered antiquated and no longer a blessing for bearing His Name! 

• Lack of self-care, boundaries and self-awareness: Self-care is mentioned a lot in pastoral circles today! That’s because it’s so important. Yes, we need to practice self-care to manage our own well-being and therefore mental health but we also need to manage our own boundaries with ourselves to make us more self-aware. Now this is totally my own opinion but it’s based on personal experience and I think is therefore worthy of consideration. As I said earlier we hear a lot about boundaries with others, but what about ourselves? Let me ask you, why do so many in pastoral care suffer from burn out when they learn so much about the importance of self-care? 

I think many may stop practicing self-care as over time they lose the ability of being self-aware from a lack of personal boundaries’ due to ministering from a place of desiring to please others first and God second without even knowing this!

I also think people become ‘burnt-out’ because they indeed stop practing self-care…but what about the why? Why do they stop practicing self-care? I believe they become so run-down from a lack of personal boundaries, in their desire to please God that they lose the ability to be self-aware and get to a place of being unable to really see their own desperate need for respite.

When we serve, and serve, and serve, without putting out own personal boundaries in place to ensure our own time for private prayer, reflective time, fitness and friends…we really are people pleasing, not God pleasing and Pastors must know this! They must have personal devotional time, praying, meditating upon Jesus in a personal and meaningful way, and of course through the personal reading of scripture and churches MUST allow this.

When we serve, and serve, and serve, paid or voluntary, we can become so run-down we can lose the ability to be self-aware and this, I believe, is how burn-out happens.

The truth is there will always be need. The Gospel is always needing to be preached, and to be heard. People will always be hungry but we need to step and go where He leads, not just where we think. He also leads us into times of rest.

After two years of intense pastoral care/counselling ministry I was in need of a break and The Lord led me into an enforced one due to some circumstances beyond my control. In all honesty I’m not sure I would have otherwise…But my prayer is always for Him to guide me. I struggled early on for a time with false guilt, as I discovered sometimes the job title gives us a sense of being a mature Christian, when we’re simply still ‘jars of clay’…sometimes the title pastor gives us a ‘human assurance’ rather than His peace, and this shouldn’t be so…Sometimes it's just so difficult to not feel 'lesser-than' and compare ourselves to others in ministry we think are "so much better than us as they don't need a break!" Or to feel this MUST be what other's think of us...Sometimes we're our own worst enemy...

Please be assured, I am passionate about this subject as I am someone who has experienced what poor mental health is like both personally and professionally in ministry.

There isn’t a day that I don’t wish my own biological dad didn’t believe suicide was a valid option…possibly that his only way to Jesus was through the afterlife rather than here and now.

There are days when I read or hear news that absolutely breaks my heart, especially horrific details of abuse so often to women and children and I cry inside…”Come, Lord Jesus”…I also know what anxiety is like and how it can physically change someone at times and I think, “How long, Lord Jesus?”

Yet more often there are times I experience great joy, His amazing peace and His love from other Christians and I am strengthened and encouraged to continue on till He returns or calls me home.

Hope this post provides some 'food for thought' and also encourages you to uphold your pastors in prayer!

In His Love, Melanie.

Just STOP Scrolling!

I feel like I need to say sorry...even though I don't feel guilty!

Life has been full and I haven't felt inspired to write very often, so I am sorry if you've been missing my posts here on the blog...

I have chosen to write 'full' rather than busy, because it's not that I haven't had time to write, rather my days are often full with other things.

I'm still homeschooling my three sons and along with their study, keeping house and family time, I've been blessed to now have the resources to focus more on my own art.

Backstory: I've always been an artistic person. In secondary school I excelled in fine arts, dance, music and drama. In final years I felt the need to 'choose' one, so I only enrolled in dance alongside more academic subjects. I chose dance because this was the subject my mother had spent the most money on educating me privately. If you know my blog and story, you'll know I became a performing arts teacher and worked in this field for over a decade. Over the years I did some fine art and textile projects at home. I always loved to create.

When I had been single for around a year (in 2013) I decided to enroll in an art class. It had been a long time since secondary school, but I went for around a term and loved it. I continued after at home, as I found it too difficult to attend class as a single mother. 

Art became an enjoyable hobby while studying theology via distance. I often photographed my artworks and used them as blog images. Now with returning to homeschooling and being at home more, I've been able to focus on gaining more skill in painting...and this has been an amazing new chapter and adventure.

It's been interesting too in the ways my art has been connecting me with others. I've met many new people and also reconnected with others. Art has become a new bridge...

I've been really encouraged by people who take the time to stop their 'scrolling' and like, love or comment.

I've been encouraged because while we see so often our world in chaos, I know it takes a conscientious effort for someone to stop, comment and encourage, when it's so much easier to just keep scrolling...

With the recent passing of a relative, and my boys growing up so fast before my own eyes, it makes me think about how we treat even our own families while we still have them...Do we stop and look up from our screens to give praise, encouragement and thanks...or do we just 'keep scrolling', passing up the opportunity to stop and say something nice, even when we get nothing in return?

I know many of us do, but I just want to say what I'm saying now to encourage us to continue to do so...and to say how important and refreshing it is to have 'real' friends and loving family members, even if we can only count them on one hand...

These truly beautiful people are the ones who care and respond even when there is absolutely NOTHING for them to gain by doing so...I have found in life they are quite uncommon.

To me these are the truly beautiful people, and while I stumble and falter at times, I want to be like them and I want to be remembered like that...as someone who stopped, noticed and encouraged, while expecting nothing in return.

I want to love freely and give freely...reaching out, both in real life and online...to love like Jesus, who taught costly godly love...the love that sacrifices by reaching out and making an effort when there's no personal gain...the love that encourages more so than reprimands...the love that loves those who aren't just our 'friends'.

So I hope we can 'Just STOP Scrolling!' and connect more...yes, these are tough times and our world is so often just a mess...but if we just stop scrolling and connect I'm sure we'll find a weight is lifted, both for the other person and ourselves.

While we can't control the world or other people, we have the choice to either complain, or decide to be someone who lives differently...

Love always, Melanie.

Am I called for ministry, and if so, what is my personal biblical model?

Okay weird title, I admit it, but it’s an actual legitimate question Christians are asked in Bible College here in Australia, and also some may personally consider. Over the course of my own Christian walk I have thought about this question many, many times, but not only that, I have also questioned the validity of the actual question itself and continue to do so from a heart of genuine pastoral care for the Church.

I first began bible college knowing I had been asked (along with every other believer) to follow Jesus with my whole life. I knew that a part of this new journey was growing in sound bible knowledge and furthermore without a ‘degree’ in Australia I would be basically unable to work full-time in ministry.

From my experience at Bible College, I found that knowing I was asked to follow Jesus with my whole life from scripture was no longer enough of an answer. We were challenged to really ‘test the call’ and to dig into scripture to find our personal ministry model; for example the Shepherd, or the Feeding of the Five Thousand, or the Woman at the Well, to name a few.

I personally felt the example of the disciples following Jesus where He led them was solid enough. I pondered why I needed to ‘peg down’ my personal calling when I felt my calling to follow, was both personal and inclusive of all Christians based on scripture. I wondered why I had to choose one ‘model’ when being 'adaptable' seemed to me to be more scriptural. When I questioned the task I was advised to just follow the process, and prayerfully choose a model. I was assured this was okay as it could change down the track. I wasn’t really satisfied but I did what was asked.

Over the years I’ve pondering this ‘foundational task’ for future ministry direction, my personal answer to the question, and indeed the validity of the question itself for our own wellbeing.

Let me quickly just say this post isn’t meant to be an in-depth, theological response rather I hope, a point of discussion and further consideration.

I am still wondering today the purpose of the question, its validity, and furthermore it’s influence on the Church…I’ll try and keep this brief.

You see, I keep coming back to Jesus and the main 12 disciples, as this is the biblical testimony to the foundation of His Church. 

His ministry wasn’t just one of feeding, or healing, or teaching. His ministry was establishing His Church before dying and rising to life, for the final sacrifice and atonement for sin, so we could be forgiven and reconciled to God as His children for eternity.

Jesus’ ministry was the one His Father gave Him.

Before His ascension Jesus commissioned all believers to take the gospel into all the world and make disciples…Why do we complicate this?

Why don’t we look to what we’ve been given?

Scripture states from St Paul “Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.”1 Corinthians 7:20.

This is NOT a scripture to ‘do nothing’. It is not even asking us to question or ‘test’ our call. 1 Corinthians 7:20 assumes the calling of all believers, and encourages them to look at what they’ve already been given as the basis of their ministry!

It doesn’t ask the believer to look for a specific biblical model.The New Testament wasn’t even established. Scripture always advises us to be led by God and not our own ideas…by His perfect Spirit and not ourselves…

Now I’m not trying to disregard the question and task altogether, it may indeed really help some people to discern their next step. And discernment for one’s ‘next step’ is always valid, in fact it's crucial.

I am concerned however about it being used ‘religiously’ for ministry foundation, when I don’t see it in scripture and therefore of the negative affects it may have on some believers and their families.

Just hear me out…

You see, sometimes our plans seem good at the time, but rather than working out to be Kingdom building they become more self-fulfilling. And sometimes when circumstances change for believers, they’re left feeling disillusioned as their ‘vision’ was crushed. It seems their foundation was more in an idea and based on the success of their 'ministry', rather than the unchanging truth of their inherited worth and calling because of their identity in Christ. 

The ego is all too easily inflamed, and I do think having a too-specific, personal calling, when it’s not found in The New Testament, oftentimes is fuel to this fire. Honestly, just try to have a humble conversation with someone about ‘your calling’, it’s extremely difficult to do.

We sadly hear of too many leading pastors coming into shame. Sometimes we hear years later, testimonies from the victims of frustrated and abusive leaders, who were very different people behind closed doors when no-one was watching. Where was the loving, patient, discipleship raising there?

Jesus’ ministry was the one His Father gave Him.

He was faithful in His task as the Messiah, The Christ, the Saviour of the World. God who became a human being, to establish the foundation of His Kingdom, before dying and raising to eternal life. We are to continue with Him, building His Kingdom by spreading the Gospel and making disciples, as He told us prior to His ascension. This is The Task we have until He returns.

So what have you been given?

Maybe you’re young and single, just starting out in life and you need to follow Him to find this gift.

Maybe you will look and see the family and job you have.

Maybe you have a burning desire for a particular ministry that doesn’t neglect your nearest and dearest, and need to knock on some doors to see if God opens them for you.

Try to not get caught up with the question and rest assured, whatever God’s will for you is, it will fulfil His great commission to all believers. Be assured all your work is ministry, even if it is unpaid, and unsung by others. Your children will NOT be neglected!

It’s helpful for us to remember that scripture states leaders MUST have their own households in order before having the responsibility of pastorally caring for others. And this leads me to another question. How many of us actually have a relationship with future leaders where we visit them at home and therefore can truly attest to this which is necessary for Bible College acceptance? How many of us today who attend church actually meet together in our own homes outside of a meeting?

Furthermore Bible College is 3-4 years full-time and here in Australia’s often far away from one’s home church and family. With professional standards and legislated protocol, how is it even practical for teachers or clergy to know their students personally and pastorally ‘behind doors’?

My heart truly is for Kingdom building, and this means sharing the Gospel and raising disciples through His love. Oftentimes we don’t need to go looking for a 'ministry' because it’s right in front of us…if only we are humble enough to accept it, for the unglamorous, often frustrating, and difficult work it is!

How better would our church communities be if families really prioritised their own children and homes first and foremost? How 'cleaner' and 'healthier' would our churches be if we realised our own personal growth and loving others was 'Kingdom building'?

Yes, there are still many who do offer this example but my heart is for this to spread like wildfire. Families who fight, day-in day-out, for the health and faithfulness of their own family, first and foremost so they are a 'true light' to others.  Families who live and breath The Word of God, and therefore impact our world not in their own strength but by His power.

We're all called to ministry, period.

I think we would do better to examine our own actions and heart to develop a god-centered focus, more than examining scripture to developing a ministry-model. 

All of what I've said is my heart, not just for you, but for my own home too. I don't think it's really anything new that hasn't been already said by someone else...But I do hope it strengthens and encourages you. You are precious to Him, irrespective of anything.

Peace, Melanie.

In My Burrow:

One of my recent watercolour paintings.
@mjsymesart

I haven’t written a blog post in around two months and recently I began to ponder as to why…

You see I love connecting with others via this blog but I also don’t want to just write for the sake of posting, and well, I just haven’t been inspired to write. This has been somewhat different for me, as for around five years I don’t think there’s been a month go by without a post.

But since the beginning of this year I’ve been in a season of ‘being in my burrow’.

A season of laying low, recharging, and focusing upon caring for my kits, and for this I make no apology…I’ve come to realise I’ve really needed it, and that’s okay.

After the wedding a year ago, I found I was quite run-down and by the end of last year I was really exhausted. You see, although I had been a single parent of three children for five years, technically I had really been single parenting for over a decade, as my ex-husband worked far away.

Fifteen years of parenting, caring, cooking, cleaning, disciplining, teaching, along with obtaining a degree and working in ministry full-time for two years while single takes a lot from someone…

Although I knew I needed rest when I resigned from chaplaincy at the end of last year to home-school the boys, it’s only now, feeling more recharged that I’m able to see more fully what The Lord was providing me. When you’re used to being quite active it can be difficult to comprehend ‘enforced rest’. Being a ‘doer’ it’s sometimes really hard to let go, rest, and relax, but sometimes circumstances and seasons force us to for our own good.

So since the beginning of this year I’ve been home schooling the boys again, and working at helping us all gel as a family, and to be completely honest, this has pretty much all I’ve been able to handle…even with the terrific help from hubby.

Blending people into a new family takes love, boundaries, patience and time. Even for myself. Simply accepting my new hubby’s loving help, although readily welcomed, actually took an adjustment, as I was so used to doing it alone and therefore struggled with some false guilt.

Over the last six months I’ve been able to recharge, safely and securely in the comfort of my own burrow. My kits have been able to settle too.

There’s still been many challenges but we’ve been able to deal with them better as we haven’t been so ‘stretched and thin’ – If you know what I mean.

It seems so often that people today are ‘stretched and thin’ in their lives, and I’m contemplating that it’s not only the adult who suffers…the children often suffer too.

Like the mother who is so run down her breast milk is no longer sufficient for her child, so our children suffer when we run ourselves thin trying to ‘have it all’.

Why do so many of us women feel guilty today when we stay home and mother our children when they’re over the age of say ten? I think we know the answer, yet this is not intended to be a blaming blog so I won’t go there.

I just want to say I am so thankful to The Lord for the rest He’s enabled.

I am seeing the benefits and this is wonderful confirmation to combat the negative, self-doubting thoughts I’ve had, just as we all can have.

All of us here are now more settled than we’ve ever been, and our stress levels are much, much, lower, and although money has sometimes been challenging, these benefit are something money can’t buy!

In my burrow I’ve found myself away from much of what’s going on outside my door…So sometimes I’ve felt guilty. Yet the refreshment of less pressure and also less drama has been a welcomed change.

Yet there’s been plenty of times where I felt I should be doing more for others. Serving more. Giving more. Just more, more, more.

I have found in life, oftentimes, less haste, selfishness, drama and consumerism always produces a better quality of life for everyone. So I just continue to let go of the negative thoughts.

In reality we were in need, and The Lord provided. Our change in circumstances led to an ‘enforced rest’ where I’ve been able to focus solely on taking care of us and I’m beginning to really feel the benefits.

Now it’s not like I wasn’t taking care of us before…it’s just that I needed to slow right down and do only this for a season.

Sometimes in life we feel so much pressure to ‘have it all’ and we often foolishly compare our lives to others who seem to have it so. We beat ourselves up on the inside for feeling ‘less than’. We run ourselves thin and can become angry and this can result in us becoming bitter towards others, as we are so exhausted and in need.

But if only we gave ourselves permission to be deemed ‘lazy’ or ‘needy’ in the eyes of those who don’t know…maybe then both us and our families would be much better off.

More money and new activities aren’t always the right answer.

A home cooked meal is more comforting than an expensive take-away one.

A clean home is more comforting and nurturing than a constantly untidy one.

An available parent is more comforting and helpful than Kids-help-line.

A peaceful and loving wife is more god-honouring than an exhausted and stressed one.

So this is what I’ve been doing and why I haven’t posted for a while…

Less drama, less stress, less activity, less haste…Less is more…

More peace, more love, more time, more joy…Less is more.

Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you for my burrow and your love for us.

You Don't Make Friends With Salad...

“You don’t make friends with salad”, a famous line turned jingle, from American cartoon, The Simpsons. A show where the star is an unhealthy guy who makes fun of his healthy-living Christian neighbours, amongst other things…

You don’t make friends with salad…

This means you don’t ‘make friends’ living a healthy life, and this is also exactly what the bible tells us is the reality for followers of Christ. Jesus Himself warned us of the persecution for bearing His Name, John 15:20-21. Scripture states one who loves the world is an enemy of God, 1 John 2:15, James 4:4.

You see it’s not just, “God so loved the world…”

God doesn’t love the world and its sin. He destroyed it once with the flood and saved only one family. God loves people for which He made the world for!

God loves people so much He wants to save them from their sin, to then transform them to become His children who will live with Him for eternity when He destroys sin once and for all with fire, and renews the world for their inheritance.

This is why Jesus died; to die the death our sins sentence us to, so that we would, like Him, rise to eternal life because we are forgiven and cleansed by His blood and redeemed by His love.

John 3:16-17 states:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.'

The world will be made new when Jesus returns and will be gifted to His faithful brothers and sisters.

Love and fire were themes present in the recent famous sermon delivered by the American Episcopal Church, Bishop Curry, at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

I recently commented on social media to some friends that although the message contained a truthful premise that ‘God is love’, it was a also a message of self-salvation when the Bishop stated that love makes us children of God, without preaching the need of repentance and spiritual rebirth…the vital role Jesus alone holds to make us children of God.

The Bishop said of Jesus, “He didn’t sacrifice his life for himself, or anything he could get out of it, He did it for others, for the other, for the good and well being of others. That’s love.” 

While Jesus’ sacrifice is an example for how we are to live, the Bishop left out the Gospel from this message…Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sin, so we can be called children of God. Jesus alone makes this possible and His resurrection proves this! Our response is not just one of loving good deeds, that is a works-based doctrine…good deeds come later when He comes to live in us. Our response needs to be one of humble repentance and faith in Him as our personal saviour, followed by commitment.

After hearing the message during Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding I was left wondering why the Gospel was not proclaimed…Why wasn’t the truth proclaimed to the world that love Himself died for our sins, so we can be saved and transformed to live lives in the freedom from sin He alone offers?

A Google search showed me that love was proclaimed in this sermon rather than repentance, salvation, and transformation, as this branch of the Church of England in the USA condones homosexuality, and ordains practicing homosexuals…

It then made sense as to why a worldly, feel-good message, about love while mentioning Jesus, without delivering the full Gospel message was delivered. If the good news Gospel message of salvation and transformation was delivered they would need to say that one must change to be a child of God and they can’t say that given their stance on homosexuality. The Bishop proclaimed a theatrical, safe message, to a world that likes Jesus but loves their sin more, John 3:19, 1 John 2:15.

Now I know there are people who will accuse me of being negative and unloving of other Christians by stating this for it's true you don’t make friends with salad…even when it’s well seasoned! But my heart breaks as I see so many Christians being led astray, so I feel I must say something!

Indeed I often refrain from writing posts here that many be considered too heavy, or interpreted as negative and critical. I try to share the Gospel as faithfully as I can, yet I don’t ever want to state the opposite of what someone will find in scripture. The world will lead you astray, the Bible (as it still is) will not.

The bible is clear, still in the New Testament, that homosexuality is a depraved sin one commits against their body which is to be a temple for God, see 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, 1 Timothy 1:8-10, Romans 1:21-18. 

Yes, this is along with adultery and fornication but when we read Romans it’s clear this brokenness is further down the slope. Similar to illicit drug cocktails being even more dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes…But it seems we can’t say this today in fear of offending someone and being accused of hate speech!

Yet I challenge people who would charge me with such to spend the time I have with broken young people trying to make sense of their mental unwellness due to drugs and depraved sexual activity…and with the children of parents who live in this depravity…I challenge them to actually spend time with me and talk about case, after case, after case.

This morning on Australian news we were told all public school and library books are now to undergo ‘gender testing’ and books such as Thomas the Tank Engine and Winnie the Pooh for example, are most likely no longer acceptable for our children, with their gender-based language and stereotypes.

The irony here as someone who has spent a lot of time with students in state school libraries, is I was often alarmed by the literature available containing material which worked as a contagion for student issues such as self-harm, suicidal ideation, and occult experimentation...yet they want to ban books with gender based characters! Why? To encourage gender fluidity which leads to sexual promiscuity and experimentation with those of the same gender. 

Recently on the news a woman discussed a new assertion that parents should gain permission from a toddler to change their nappy/diaper. This was met with irate criticism from many Australians saying it was absurd. Now while I believe it's absolutely important for children to learn they have autonomy over their own body, and therefore the right to say no, the truth is predators trick young children into audibly giving permission when consenting to playing a 'game' or 'keeping a secret' for sexual abuse to take place. Children need to be guided by their parents to obey them, not to give consent to whomever they in their developing mind think they should give it to. Children need to learn from loving parents discernment regarding whom to trust, and the difference between changing a nappy or being instructed how to wash their genitals, compared to sexual abuse...Furthermore that as a parent (not an equal) the child can tell them anything, and they have the power as adults to do something about it and will always believe them.

Then off-shore today in American news, there was a woman campaigning for legislation to ban words from use. In particular the word ‘man’ as she finds it offensive and believes it’s a human right simply because language evolves. She is also positive about other people petitioning for other words to be done away with…

Who do people hate men...in particular godly men?

They hate godly maleness that represents Jesus and The Father.

And while homosexuals may say they ‘love’ men and maleness, we know this is untrue when we look at the Mardi Gras and Drag Queen costumes which mock maleness through queerness. The sad truth is these ‘men’ so desperately need to know the godly love of The Father, yet they look for it in other human males, dressing as harlots to attract it.

While so many preach love, respect, tolerance and world peace, they absolutely want to do away traditional Christianity and free speech. They are deceived by the enemy into thinking when they get what they want they will be happy. While the truth is they will remain unsatisfied, broken, plagued with mental instability and unsaved for when Jesus returns...and the children will suffer the most...

There is no ecumenical, one-religion, love your way to Jesus gospel message…Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

Yes, love makes a way for people to come to Jesus, but this is so they will repent and change, not stay broken in their sin. We are to be His hand, feet and voice, not a Band-Aid.

Love makes a way, but this is so we can be a light in this dark world, living in holiness while we await His return. ‘For it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16.

We are forgiven but this does not mean we are to continue living in deliberate sin. Jesus said to the woman who was to be stoned for adultery she was forgiven but also to go and sin no more, John 8:1-11.

We may still sin, but we live repentant lives, making choices each day that honour Jesus and scripture, and therefore imitate His life. 1 John 2:1-2.

Loving others does not mean we don’t speak out for truth…It does not mean we don’t bring the salad when everyone else brings meat. It does mean we will be ridiculed and persecuted...slandered and attacked...and not invited to many barbecues...

But Jesus is returning and who will we be greeting Him with? 

It is not loving to say to someone that their own loving actions will save them…that they don’t need transformation…

When the rapture happens there will be many who are left and claim it didn’t happen because they’re Christian. But all you need to do is look at the world news to see the signs it’s not far off.

Jesus said there will be many who call Him Lord but He will say He never knew them. Matthew 7:21-23.

Jesus urged us to remain alert and prayerful so we are found ready when He returns. Matthew 24:44.

God is love but the beginning of wisdom is fear and reverence for Him. Proverbs 1:7.

Don’t be fooled. Jesus saves those who repent and belong in dedication to Him. He told us there will be a separation of ‘goat and sheep’ at final judgement, meaning those who belong to Him and those who don’t. Matthew 25:31–46.

How often are we looking into the mirror of scripture compared to the neon signs of the world?

No, you don’t make friends with salad, but as faithful followers of Jesus you will eat in the banquet hall of the King and Kings, Luke 14:15-24.

If you haven’t repented of your sin and given your life to Jesus do it today and be free. He is coming. Amen, come Lord Jesus.