I am late for International Men’s Day but felt compelled not to miss it.

So much of our public discourse now touches in some way on maleness and femaleness.

Toxic masculinity, Jordan Peterson, gender quotas, privilege, power…

After a gruelling political campaign, Daniel Andrew’s incumbent ALP Government clearly defeated Mathew Guy’s Liberal/National Opposition to form government in Victoria.  

Most Victorians evidently form their voting decision around how they feel the state is at and what will affect their family.  Employment, economic growth, traffic, health and hospitals and crime all weigh heavily on why people vote the way they do.

For years I wondered why, of all the attributes of God, Jesus chose mercy for the fifth beatitude.

There is a logical progression to the beatitudes – they are not random statements. Nobody teaches or makes a point by way of random statements. This blog doesn’t, you don’t, and neither did Jesus.

Taken together, in order, they describe the character traits of the heart into which the kingdom of God has come. They are the Christian’s character reference.

They are profound.

When I was very young, I watched Disney’s Aladdin.

From that day, I’d often speculate about what I’d ask the genie in the lamp if I ever found him.

How could I eke maximum benefit out of just three wishes? Could I phrase my wishes in such a way as to get more wishes? Or perhaps some infinite benefit out of what appeared to be a single wish?

My mind was abuzz with options. Of course, I’d never ask for a million dollars or some specific amount of money. I’d ask for a wallet that never stopped dispensing money – hah! Yes! Clever! Pity the fool who didn’t think of that!

It was around this time that I read the story of Solomon.

God gave him one wish which would be His command.

Amongst Christians, a debate about Nauru rarely gets far before someone invokes Jesus.

His parable of the Good Samaritan, His command to love our neighbour, even the notion that He was a refugee (sort of).

Recently I was at a meeting with some leaders from the LGBTIQ political lobby.

It was suggested by someone that people from the LGBTIQ community should not feel unwelcome to enter a church.

“Oh, forget it!” Said one of the leaders.

“Why?”

The Australian Christian Lobby today welcomes the news that the number of children on Nauru has more than halved over the last nine weeks.

In a nation where leaders are falling over themselves to enact so-called progressive social policies like abortion on demand up to birth and sexless birth certificates, it was refreshing to read something different. Late last week, South Australia’s web-based newspaper In Daily said the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition could both be characterised as men who did not enter politics to enact social policy. Instead, it stated that both politicians wanted to ensure a strong economy.

“The King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water He turns it wherever He pleases.” Proverbs 21:1

“…it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” [Matt 18:6]*

The human spirit simultaneously loves and hates justice.

I often speak to groups of teenagers and some of their strongest objections to the gospel relate to justice.