If you’ve ever been hill walking you may have come across a cairn; a pile of stones or rocks heaped up in a significant place. The most common of these sites is at the highest point of a hill or prominence - often marking the top of a big climb. It lets you know you’ve arrived, you’ve done it! Just like many who have been here before you, it’s [...]

'Trick or treating', making pumpkin lanterns, dressing up in creepy costumes... What does Halloween mean? Around this time of year many prepare to celebrate Halloween. As the days get shorter and colder kids do Halloween craftwork at school, homes get decorated with spooky cobwebs, spiders and bats, and pumpkins will get carved with scary faces and lit up with candles. For most this is a fun time of sweets, [...]

Championed by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lady Gaga, who all testify to its power, the practice of Manifesting is more popular than ever. It's all over social media and a massive commercial industry offering people the chance to 'claim' what they want in life through positive thought and rituals. I've also noticed it popping up in conversations with family friends and on TV programs; just [...]

At the beginning of a new year having a time of quiet and thoughtful reflection on the past is really worthwhile. In fact it can help us in navigating the future. Reflecting on the past, particularly the year that has just come to an end is a great way to plan ahead. I personally find deliberately setting aside some time for this helpful. I often go for a solitary [...]

The power of blessing is often overlooked in everyday life but blessing others is a central theme in the gospel message. Have you ever had someone smile and say, “Bless you” (and not just because you sneezed)!? Perhaps you helped someone with their bags or did some other good turn - that might provoke them to say, “Bless you!” Some people say, “Bless you” all the time, almost as [...]

Here's the basic faith-leap of Christianity: The corner-stone of the Gospel is that we're saved by the grace of God and not by our own efforts or righteousness. This is made possible by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). As Jesus himself explained to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so [...]

If you’re GIVING UP something for Lent it’s important to know what you will be TAKING UP too. In the six weeks leading up to Easter (40 days not including Sundays) many Christians use this time to observe some form of fast. The discipline of self denial can have many benefits (spiritual, mental and physical) if done in the right way - emulating the 40 days that Jesus was [...]