The Cologne Cathedral is Germany’s most visited landmark, with an estimated 20,000 visitors each day of the year. It is a World Heritage Site and is a stunning example of Gothic architecture. What is most fascinating about this church building is the fact that it took 100s of years to build. The first part was constructed … Continue reading Cologne Cathedral – Working for Something that will Outlive You
A New Season: Spring
Here in Melbourne, Australia the season of Spring begins - today! I love Spring. We start to move away from the cold, rainy and cloudy days of winter. The sun starts to become warmer. Birds are singing their little hearts out. Trees that have looked dead start to blossom with new life. Solomon described it well … Continue reading A New Season: Spring
Separating Fact from Fiction – on the Internet
Every day or so I receive one of those "pass it on" emails explaining some horrible thing that has happened or some latest conspiracy theory. It's hard to know what to believe. How do you separate fact from fiction? There is a web site dedicated to helping us in this area, called Snopes. Their mission … Continue reading Separating Fact from Fiction – on the Internet
Understanding WD40
A friend passed this on to me. Interesting reading ... Before you read to the end, do you know what the main ingredient of WD-40 is? Who knew? I had a neighbour who bought a new car. I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around … Continue reading Understanding WD40
Silent Night Story
Silent Night is one of the most popular carols sun across the world at this Christmas season. There are many romantic stories about how it was composed. Here is one of them that may contain an element of truth to it ... On Christmas Eve 1818 in Austria, the Vicar of a small church in … Continue reading Silent Night Story
Australian Human Rights Award goes to Tony and Lisa Clark
Congratulations to Tony and Lisa Clark who were selected as the winners of the Australian Human Rights Commission - Community Organisation award at a ceremony in Sydney today. Tony, who founded Swags for Homeless in 2007, started the non-profit homeless charity in Melbourne when he questioned what was given to street sleeping homeless turned away … Continue reading Australian Human Rights Award goes to Tony and Lisa Clark
The Starfish Story – Making a Difference
Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like … Continue reading The Starfish Story – Making a Difference
Recycling Hotel Soap to Save Lives
Derreck Kayongo, from Uganda, is one of this year's Top 10 CNN Heroes nominees. Click here to read his amazing story. Through simple presence of mind, Derreck had an idea to collect used hotel soap, that usually ends up as landfill, and recycle it for use in impoverished nations such as Haiti, Uganda, Kenya and … Continue reading Recycling Hotel Soap to Save Lives
Ready for Adventure? An Invitation from Earnest Shackleton
Apparently explorer Earnest Shackleton placed the following notice in a newspaper while preparing for an expedition to Antarctica: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success." Supposedly there were 5,000 men and 3 women who responded! Have we become … Continue reading Ready for Adventure? An Invitation from Earnest Shackleton
Unlikely Friends
Christopher Hitchens is one of the most outspoken atheists today and author of the best-selling book God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Francis Collins is a world re-known scientist with a strong Christian faith, noted for his leadership of the Human Genome Project and his best-selling book The Language of God: A Scientist Presents … Continue reading Unlikely Friends
How Christianity Changed the World
Have you ever considered the tangible impact of the coming of Jesus Christ on our world? Sociologist, Alvin Schmit decided to do an extensive research project to answer this question. A summary of his research can be found in his excellent book How Christianity Changed the World (formerly published with the title Under the Influence). It … Continue reading How Christianity Changed the World
Remember Your Death
The following is a transcript of part of a speech by Steve Jobs at the Stanford University Commencement in 2005 (click here for the full text). As Moses said, may God teach us to number our days rightly so we may present to him a heart of wisdom (Ps.90:12). Steve Jobs When I was 17, I read a quote … Continue reading Remember Your Death
The Dignity of Work
"Most of what Jesus said and did took place in a secular workplace in a farmer's field, in a fishing boat, at a wedding feast, in a cemetery, at a public well asking a woman he didn't know for a drink of water, on a country hillside that he turned into a huge picnic, in … Continue reading The Dignity of Work
A Picture of HOPE
During January, our theme at CityLife is Faith, Hope and Love. This weekend our teaching team spoke about hope. Our Associate Pastor, Paul Molyneux, began his message by referring to a well-known painting by George Frederick Watts RA (1817-1904), entitled "Hope." Here is a description of the background of this painting from the book "Famous Paintings" … Continue reading A Picture of HOPE
Wendell Smith (1950-2010) – a Hero of Faith
Wendell Smith, the founding pastor of the influential City Church in Seattle, Washington, passed away this week after a 6-year battle with cancer. Wendell was a pastor, a preacher, an author and a leader of leaders. Wendell is survived by his wife Gini, his son and daughter-in-law, Judah and Chelsea Smith, who are now the Lead … Continue reading Wendell Smith (1950-2010) – a Hero of Faith