Me having a ‘sin nature’ might be responsible for all that is wrong in the world.I find the idea that the ‘core of who I am is evil’ to be deeply problematic. When I see myself as born with a sin nature, my default understanding of original self is that I am marred, deficient, and incapable of giving or receiving love.This concept that I am inherently outside of God’s love carries an unfathomable ..read more

The life story of Keith Green was a formative read for me in my early 20s.His prophetic voice and artistry still bring an emotive response — my faith story is indelibly marked by the no-holds-barred perspective of many of his songs.An unmistakable call for those who identify as followers of Jesus to awaken and orient themselves to a radical life of love.Fresh off the movement of the Jesus people ..read more

A step forwards in love might mean no regrets, but it can also involve a trail of unexpected consequences.Loving in a particular direction can mean rushing headlong into complexity and occasional confusion, yet I remain compelled to love.And as love compels me to step forward it creates distance with what I leave behind.I hadn’t anticipated that.Yes, the distance of people’s capacity to ..read more

You can’t argue with the response to a food allergy diagnosis. The person’s diet needs to change.  No doubt, the person is responsible for the choices for what they eat, and in the case of a child, the parents also carry this responsibility.  They change the system of their food preparation at home, and they begin to make more informed decisions as to how they source their food — and where they ..read more

Rachel Held-Evans writes of a conference she hosts in 2015 having invited ‘a dozen speakers’ to respond to the question:“Why Christian? Why, with all the atrocities past and present committed in God’s name, amid all the divisions ripping apart the church, in spite of all their doubts and frustrations and fears about faith, are they still followers of Jesus?  What makes them continue to believe ..read more

Today our third child Jackson has announced their preference for the use of she/her pronouns.As parents we know this has been a significant decision and we want to affirm Jackson in her desire to be at peace with who they are, and she will never not have a place in our family.As long-term followers of Jesus we believe that a resolute love is the only lens through which to view our children, and ..read more

 Today marks the end of an era.Never again will my eldest son need to make up a witty response to a customer’s lame attempt at humour: ‘do you guys have a sale on?’ (Referring to the over-the-top store merchandising that EB Games are renowned for).It was just over 10 years ago, that the Marion store manager flipped a coin on two resumes brought in by hopeful teenagers. It landed on Tom.In spite ..read more

God is doing a new work of holiness in me. Not a work of blandness or restriction, but an expansion of horizons — a broadening.Having been undone by a larger vision of God as Person, the ember of Isaiah 6 hovers before my lips and the purification from sectarianism and ‘truth drained from mystery’ is in the midst of doing its cleansing work.  “But holiness is in wild and furious opposition to all ..read more

 I bought these shoes yesterday.Adidas ‘Boost Pride’.I’m not all that comfortable in them just yet.  They fit fine, they just aren’t my typical ‘fit’.If I saw someone else wearing these shoes, my internal dialogue has tended to default to:“I wonder if they’re gay.”“They’re probably making a statement.”Or, “good on them for putting themselves out there, but you wouldn’t find me wearing those.”I’m ..read more

“It must be like ‘mixed feelings’.”The sentiment was right, but the words got stuck on the way out.The emotions aren’t mixed.  They are whole.  Complete in their experience and expression.Extreme.  Not mixed.  Not tempered.  Not diluted.Anything less than a no-holds-barred, fully-formed emotional response would be a dis-service to these two precious people.Somehow, a new vocabulary is ..read more