Acts 15.6 ”The apostles and elders met to consider this question.”

Observation   I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but the other day I watched a bit of Question Time, where the Australian politicians debate certain issues in Parliament (let me clarify that I was sick, lying on the couch and couldn’t reach the remote!!). I was horrified yet again in how the leaders of our country define ‘healthy debate’ when they were yelling out, interrupting and being rude towards their opposition. Read more

Acts 14.22 “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Observation We all like to live the easy life. We drool over advertisements that show grand holidays when all we have is a rusty caravan in the back yard, we put down students for being lazy when really we’re just jealous of their copious amounts of holidays, and we idolise the rich and famous because their lives seem so much easier with wealth. Read more

Acts 13.6-7 “There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus.” (NIV)

Observation I know it may seem a bit melodramatic but when I read this passage of a sorcerer using his position as an attendant to try and influence thr proconsul away from God, I was reminded of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. During this second movie we meet the characters of Rohan and find King Theoden has been weakened by his steward Grima Wormtongue. Lucky Gandalf comes Read more

Acts 12.6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chans, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. (NIV)

Observation I know I’m female so shouldn’t be claiming this, but I actually don’t mind action movies. Sure, often they are a little lacking in story line, but they are usually quite entertaining. Sometimes I have to Read more

Acts 11.29 The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea. (New Revised Standard Version Bible)

Observation I have heard both Marcus Buckingham and John Maxwell speak about working on your strengths and not focusing too much on our weaknesses. As these experts in work productivity explained this basic yet profound wisdom, my whole work ethic seemed to be Read more

Acts 10:14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” (NIV)

Observation: There are written rules and unwritten rules all over the world. For example, if you drive in the car there are written rules which you must abide by. But there are also unwritten rules too. ‘You should always wave if someone lets you in’. This rule is certainly not written anywhere and the police will not pull you up if you disobey, Read more

Acts 9:16 “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (NIV)

Observation: We all like the easy life… or at least I do! If there’s a quicker, more effective way of getting things done then I like to hear about it. I try to discover all the short-cuts on my computer keyboard and get Read more

Acts 8:13 “Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.” (NIV)

Observation: As a child, it took me a long time to learn to ride a bike without my training-wheels. But once I got the hang of it, my friend and I would ride everywhere! Just recently I have moved to a flatter part of Melbourne and so I’ve got the bike out again to exercise and ride to the Read more

Acts 7:48a “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men.” (NIV)

Observation:A couple of weeks ago I was walking along a tree lined street. At the very moment I walked past a particular tree, one of it’s leaves was released and it drifted down in front of me. It was like a sacred moment for me. Just at the time I Read more

Acts 6.1 “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” (NIV)

Observation: This passage is a good reminder for me that the first Christians were actually human.  The first chapters of Acts are amazing and show the power of the Spirit and the massive impact a group of believers can have on a community.  However, it’s reassuring for us Read more