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A Bigger Picture of Reality

26.07.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

Last Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. I was almost five at the time. I still remember it, but that may be because my parents went out and bought a television for the occasion and it was the first thing I ever watched…

The Test of a Free Society

05.07.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

The issue of religious freedom is currently in the news. I cannot comment on the specifics of the Israel Folau case because I don’t know the facts and the legal rights and wrongs are for a court to decide. However, I can make some general observations about the value of religious freedom.

Tags: Freedom, Truth

Unity without Uniformity

21.06.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

The statement was made to me, “If ever Christians need to be tightly united, it is now!” By my count there are at least eight Christian Churches in Young. The late James Calvert, Pastor of the New Life Church in Young, was a passionate advocate for Christian unity. I believe that a very real sense of unity does exist and it is growing.

God's Law and Man's Law

07.06.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

I have been asked another question, this time about the contemporary relevance of ancient laws. In the secular world, laws are enacted in response to things that are of concern to society…

Tags: God's Law, Justice

Is Close Enough Good Enough?

24.05.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

Last time I wrote, I said I’d be happy to answer any of your questions about God. To my surprise, someone wrote to me. They said, “I have always hoped to be a Christian, but I have fallen short… What are the criteria to be defined as a Christian? Is close enough good enough?”

Tags: Acceptance, Trust, Sin, Faith, Assurance

Doubt and Belief

10.05.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

Christians have just celebrated the events of Easter - the death of Jesus and his rising again to new life. One person said to me after Easter, “I can’t be a Christian. I‘d like to believe, but what you claim is impossible.” My reply was that every Christian, if they’re honest, has doubts at some point. But doubts don’t preclude faith…

Tags: Easter, Faith, Doubt

Freedom in Captivity

26.04.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

There was a man up the street from my childhood home by the name of Jim. He was kind, gentle, generous. He left gifts of vegetables from his garden on our doorstep early in the morning. But one thing always puzzled me as a child. Why did he only have one arm?

Tags: Freedom, Love, Anzac Day

God is in the Rescue Business

12.04.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

Last week at a Men’s Breakfast, we heard from one of our State’s most senior police officers. It struck me that people think about God as if he is in the law enforcement business. God is some kind of cosmic policeman and we have to obey his rules or it’s off to the slammer for eternity. The truth couldn’t be more different…

Tags: Rescue

Good Government

08.03.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

With a State election immanent, part of me wants to make some comment. It’s not my place to promote a particular candidate and part of me can’t think of anything more boring than discussing politics. But, within those parameters, I’ll have a go. Like most of us, what I really long for is good government…

Tags: Elections, Government, Authority

Valentine’s Day on Steroids

15.02.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

Yesterday was Valentine’s day. I must confess, up front, that I don’t have a romantic bone in my body, so that may colour my opinions. My thoughts on Valentine’s Day are mixed…

Tags: Love, Valentines Day

Gratitude In Action

25.01.2019 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

Australia Day is a day where we focus on what it means to be Australian and a day of celebration where we express our gratitude for the blessings we enjoy. We have a lot to be thankful for – freedom, wealth, technology, natural resources, families, world class health care and education, a vast and beautiful land…

Tags: Thankfulness, Australia Day

A Fresh Start

28.12.2018 Categories: All Written by: Neil Percival

We can all benefit a fresh start from time to time, a chance to wipe the slate clean, draw a line under past failures and disappointments, and begin again. A fresh start can give us new energy, new enthusiasm, and a chance for things to be different…

Tags: Fresh start, New life, New Year