CONNECTED Adventist

Marriage + 1 (and I'm not talking about infidelity)

Who's the "+ 1" in your marriage? YOUR NEW BABY! The next statement will SHOCK YOU! There's some scary parallels between your baby and infidelity! New parents, or parents to be, please listen to this episode, it may save your marriage and your family.

Dear First Time Parents, This One is just for YOU!

Grief and Loss isn't often associated with "parenting", unless its in relation to the death of a child. But just as much as there is to gain when becoming a first time parent, there is also lot of loss with the birth of a first child. But these conversations aren't always had among Christians. The dark clouds of parenting aren't always talked about and this leaves many new parents to weather the storms of change and the unknown on their own. I hope this episode gives you a sense of communit...

Matildas- a Blessing in Disguise

They lost. But there's way more to sport than winning. A mistake that's often made in team sport is putting a lot of pressure on one or a handful of players to get the win. Experts, commentators and fans can fall into the trap of highlighting key players in a team. But this FIFA World Cup Australia learned that we to cheer on our entire team when we lost our star Striker, Sam Kerr to injury. Through the Matildas' journey this WC, I was reminded of similar mistakes we make in our churches. ...

The Great Physician not Condemner

Seeing a health professional when you're sick can be the most comforting thing you can do. While on our mission trip, I was often looking for our resident nurses and showing them my cuts and scratches,  just so a professional could tell me I was- ok! Have you gone to Jesus, knowing you need healing? He's the best "professional" to go see and He always prescribes a generous dose of mercy, grace and forgiveness. 

You Choose- Scoop or River?

Some things, we don't get to choose. In Timor, I didn't get to choose how I showered. Where we stayed- a bucket and scoop IS classified a shower. But when I knew I could shower in a river- I knew I'd much rather abundance over convenience. What would you choose?

Missions of Mercy and a Natural Disaster

"Thus would I go on missions of mercy, Following Christ from day unto day, Cheering the faint and raising the fallen, Pointing the lost to Jesus, the Way. Going afar (going afar) Upon the mountain (upon the mountain) Bringing the wanderer back again, back again, Into the fold (into the fold) Of my Redeemer (of my Redeemer) Jesus the Lamb for sinners slain, for sinners slain" Just being lazy....didn't have time of a proper episode summary :) but let me tell you all about my family's mission ...

Children of God

People often judge parents by the kids actions. I know, it shouldn't be like that but it's true in many cases. So what happens when people judge God by our choices? Sweet potatoes, it's a worry; or is it an honour?

Friends Are Overrated (Still)

IDK I still think BFF are like burger advertisements- big claims on flavour and satisfaction, marketing is impressive (and borderline deceitful) when in reality- their messy, half the size they're supposed to be and dry. But hey, convince me otherwise... No, I know some of you went to the right place to order your "BFF meal" and have lived a happy life with that trusty BFF from Kindergarten. Good for you, but I still believe the lesson we ALL have to learn- the "friendship scourges" AND the ...

Asbury Revival- A SDA's opinion

Did you hear about the Asbury Revival?!?!?! If you didn't make sure to listen to this episode.

Seeking the Lost

Ok, I've been thinking about death some more. This one cut a little too deep. This episode feels very close to home, I'm convinced I might be heartbroken in Heaven.

Suicide. Reach out.

We need to have more conversations about suicide.  Too many Christians are suffering in silence. 

Go Sit with Mary

Does your friends lists look just like the Pharisee's or like Jesus'? Sabbath keepers: check. Vegetarian: check. Non-drug user: check. Use appropriate language: check. But what if we spent time with people who lived their lives completely different to the SDA norm? Could you call them your friend? Would you sit a have dinner with them? Jesus did.

The "Liberal" God

Parenting as a Christian seems to have an additional layer of complexity- modelling the character of our Heavenly Father! Yikes that's an epic responsibility! With a 13 and 12 yr old, my parenting seems to be forever evolving and so is my perception of God.

Til Death do Us Part

Everyone loves a wedding! But no one loves a DIVORCE! Well, not like a wedding at least- unless your marriage was real bad, then you might have a big divorce party. But what happens to marriages to go from all loved-up to "I never want a share a bed with you AGAIN"! To be honest, I wish I knew....I wish I knew.

The World Cup of Heaven

The stadium is PACKED! Sold out game! Every seat is filled and the noise of the cheering crowd is a spectacle on its own. Everyone has come to see who will win. Who will progress to the next round. The crowd is completely invested in their team. The game is between the kingdoms of God and Satan- and your life- is match the crowd has come to watch. The crowd, is the heavenly host. Who will win?

Happy 4th Birthday! Shout out to all the Little Toes and Pinkies of the church!

Can you believe it!! 4 years of the CONNECTED PODCAST- Thank you JESUS! Although I do feel this year was a bit of a write-off...but let's not talk about that now. Today I wanted to acknowledge and appreciate all those peeps who think they're only a little toe or a pinkie in the work of the church. I see you, I value you and I'm SO thankful for you!

Life is not as simple as a single FAIL or PASS

Given that 90% of my life seems to be spent writing research assessments and reading hundreds of pages of academic journals and literature....the reality of failing or passing my assessments puts a lot of pressure on my day-to-day functioning. So to add a spiritual dimension to "failing and passing" can make life a mental and emotional pressure cooker! I miss you!!

When the Path isn't Clear

Not every righteous decisions is easy to make. Following God's will isn't the 'flashiest' either. The path that God sets our for us may not be the one with the 'pretty lights'. Sometimes, the will of God, the narrow path, doesn't cater for our wants, but we can definitely trust, that it will cater for all our needs and most importantly- all our spiritual needs. Lets be honest- many times, the narrow road is not our preference!

Go to church!

Don't get upset, there's a reason I'm telling you to go to church...well honesty, I had to tell myself to go to church last sabbath. Church felt like a lifeline to me this last week. In the last two weeks life became so disorderly, that I needed my constant. I needed my unmoving weekly point of stability and grounding... I needed church!

BBL

Lets talk about BBLs... yes, BBLs! It's important, your identity, beauty and worth shouldn't be based on the size of your butt!

Jesus + Therapy (better audio version)

Better quality audio than the first Jesus + Therapy episode.... slightly different stuff though...cause I can't remember exactly what I said in the first episode...but don't stress- because y'all know God showed up and got me to say what needed to be said AND that's what matters! "I know, there's a ton of you who don't "believe" in therapy. Don't worry I get you, but I also think there's tremendous benefits to therapy. I even think it can help us to spread the Gospel more effectively... fo...

Jesus + Therapy

I know, there's a ton of you who don't "believe" in therapy. Don't worry I get you, but I also think there's tremendous benefits to therapy. I even think it can help us to spread the Gospel more effectively... for real! As Jackie Hill-Perry's merch would say- Jesus + Therapy!

Will Smith and King David

I know ya'll heard enough about "The Slap"... so I'm not going there. But I am going to chat about stuff that's related and discuss what would happen if David had done the same thing? Would you still read the Psalms?

Will Smith and Kind David

I know ya'll heard enough about "The Slap"... so I'm not going there. But I am going to chat about stuff that's related and discuss what would happen if David had done the same thing? Would you still read the Psalms?

My Heroes- Week of Spiritual Emphasis

My Lifeline- Empty Pews to a Million Views with Justin Khoe

Fam! This is a mighty long episode for a mighty good reason! So pumped I don't have nothing to write... I kind of talked about it for an hour lol

Based on a True Story Christianity

"Fake it till you make it" they say. But what if you lived your life emphasising the authentic, genuine experiences of your true story? There is so much richness and power in hearing the truth of someone's journey.  Interestingly enough, I find that the confidence we carry with our story, is what makes it powerful, not the events, severity or details.  How your life experiences have impacted and transformed  you, can instantly be heard when spoken with authenticity.

Knowledge Gives You a Voice

In groups discussions, I'm usually the one that contributes to the discussion or remains silent. The only times I remain silent are when; I'm tired, it's not worth investing my energy into the discussion or when I don't know anything about what they're talking about. I was recently with a group of people, who all cooperating were super knowledgable about something i wasn't. I found myself seeking to learn from them. My mind was so stimulated discussing a topic I had never talked about in my 3...

Natural Disasters

The unfortunate truth is that disaster is inevitable, it's not a matter of "if", but "when"? I know, it kind of sucks, hey. But I actually spoke with two people who think the impact of a flood, was actually a relief for them in one specific area of their life. It would appear that for some people, all the challenges of living through a natural disaster actually helped them in some areas of their life.

The Apple Store Culture

Culture is so important. Culture isn't always positive, it simply is whatever has been reinforced and embraced by a group of people. The reality is that culture can be just as strong in negative elements, as another organisation can strive to make sure their culture is a positive one. Additionally, the desired culture of a group, isn't necessarily the reality of the group. Culture is created from much more than just- intent. So what is the SDA culture? There's one area of our culture that s...

SHAME-FILLED

Having a black-eye for two weeks taught me a lot about shame. Not any old shame, but the shame we choose to place on ourselves, with no need for help from anyone placing extra shame on us! We’ve all messed up, made mistakes, and as the Bible says, ‘we’ve all sinned’. But not all wrong choices carry the same negative consequences. Choosing the wrong flavoured drink doesn’t normally carry shame with it. Most often, the heaviness of shame we carry, is equivalent to the heaviness of sin we commit...

Not Like Your Father

Whether we like to admit it or not, we all seem to look like or act like our parents, or other adults who have had an impact in our upbringing. Sometimes our mannerisms, our character and our appearance can be unintentionally a reflection of what was modelled to us during influential stages of our life. Often, not only do we take on the good from these influential people, but somehow, the bad seems to creep into our personality too. But should it be that way?

Don't Wait for "Goodbye"

Relocating to a new town, school or workplace after years in an area can make leaving an emotional experience. Packing up and leave the familiar can be unsettling and exciting. Saying your final goodbyes to people you've grown with can also be sad and a relief; depending on how much you got along with the people. What I did learn from leaving our home town of 13 years, was that goodbyes should be said much more often than just when we leave.

Packing up Bitterness

Pack only the essentials. When we move, so many of us tend to pack things up that we know we don't need or use. Why? There's a degree of regret, loss and even attachment that we have with purchasing and having so many 'things', so we pack them and move them to the next location, simply because we may not want to do the 'hard work' of culling and admitting our defeat or loss. But storing hurt without converting it to wisdom, can make us change and let the Devil win!

Like Little Children

Adults are often telling kids to 'grow up'. But growing up can be overrated. Adulting isn't always glamours. Most importantly- Jesus told us to not grow up. There's something about children that Jesus highlighted in the way children relate to salvation and faith. Child-like faith; trusts, is humble, is loving and is forgiving. Those who will be the greatest- will be like children!

The Superpower of Psychology

Psychology is so POWERFUL. The ability to understand the way the human mind functions can be the most useful skill we can have to help bring people to a place of healing from their past. I degree of psychological knowledge can also help you to protect yourself from harmful people. But with any superpower, we can use it for good and for evil! Watch out for those 'psychological' people!

The Fragrance of Sacrifice and Refinement

I've been a vegetarian for almost 15 years but I still think the aroma of beef cooking in a fry pan or BBQ is pleasurable. When we read about our sacrifices and refinement being a 'pleasing fragrance on to the Lord' it may not sit that well with our soul. For the participants of refinement, the Refiner's fire isn't typically identify as 'sweet' or 'pleasant'- its usually super painful and uncomfortable and we just want it to end already! But the sweet fragrance doesn't come from short, comfor...

Circumcision

Everyone has been given a label. Most probably, everyone has been stereotyped or profiled, and I can guarantee, that everyone had had assumptions made about them. Most of us tend to base our opinion on experience. So what experiences are you creating from Adventism when you engage with people in your community? What labels are been placed on our denomination through your testimony? Can it be said of you that you're circumcised?

I Do vs I Don't

Baptism is supposed to be the most precious celebrations in the Christian life. But it is for everyone? And have we as a denomination go it all wrong? Like marriage, commitment is intended to be more than I one day event. It's a commitment to show up and build hope on what 'will be'.

The End is Near

The end is so so near! Before you know it I'll be near the QLD/ NSW boarder and be leaving 12 years of ministry and friends behind me. So what thoughts have these final days prompted? Regrets, mistakes and highlights. But it has also made me aware that we must live everyday for our Divine purpose. When the end arrives- there's no wishing for more time or opportunity for second chances. The end, is truely- the end for many aspects of our life and our mission and there's no turning back.

A Mandate to Divide

In Australia, Adventism is getting split down the middle. The church has two camps, those choosing to follow through with national vaccine mandates and those choosing to be the minority and not be vaccinated. The impact that this decision has had on our church is more divisive than women's ordination; and I thought nothing could seperate us more than that! So what can we do to repair the split on the very fabric of unity? Can the vaccinated and unvaccinated ever be sewn back together to be o...

Coveting Experiences

Pathfinders can teach children lots of valuable and life changing skills; how to tie knots, how to build a rafts, how to nurture your faith AND HOW TO COOK DAMPER BREAD ON A BRANCH! At our club's last pathfinder camp, my 'camp bread making' life was revolutionised! But I also learnt that memorable experiences can't be exchanged without making an investment. A dedication of time, energy and resources is the only way we can share and recreate the elements that have created an impact in our liv...

Coach Jesus

Joining a basketball team a month ago has taught me how important it is to have a COACH! Specially when you have no idea what you're doing! Often, coaches can see what most players can't and a good coach, can change the entire direction of a game from losing to winning or from losing to- learning.

Three Years of CONNECTEDNESS

Three years of podcasting has taught me more about myself than podcasting. Three years of CONNECTEDNESS is bound to reveal a lot about anyone. In these last 3 years, I've invited you all to journeyed through some of the most vulnerable stages of my life, But with that vulnerability, you've also witnessed God strengthen me- beyond measure.

Just Cut it Off Already

We've all read or heard that illustrative Bible verse, 'if your arm causes you to offend cut it off, or if your eye causes you to sin pull it out'. It sounds kind of severe and an pretty graphic illustration but experience, heartache and regrets, have taught me that this verse is filled with wisdom. The reality is that some things, some habits and some people just need to be cut off! This week, after a cutting accident in the kitchen, I became a much stronger believer in this verse, or at lea...

Train to Grow

Sometimes we seek comfort over grow. But comfort can limit our potential. Staying within the constraints of predictability can make life stagnant and hold us back from making dreams are reality. Within Christianity, comfort doesn't just limit just our dreams, it can potentially limits God's dreams for us too. Train to grow, train with the people that make you the most UNCOMFORTABLE!

Save Yourself

Stop saving people! Wait up, I'll explain. Often, the natural response of many people is to save others before ourselves, and although that is honourable, I have seen too many people, marriages, families and churches crash and burn (symbolically) because they neglected to invest time in saving themselves first. Taking time to invest in our walk with God can strengthen us to do an even greater job at what we're already doing with God. If we put our oxygen mask on first, we'll be able to help M...

Is Google ever Wrong?

We're starting to Google EVERYTHING. Symptoms, people, factchecking, science and everything else that we need to get answers about! But that scares me! What if Google gets it wrong? We seem to be blindly making Google the Canon- for life and faith. So what's the alternative? I know what's worked for me, and I'm very confident it will be helpful to you. But to be honest, I'm still googling a lot of things, because I don't know a lot about a lot of things, I just don't Google things relating to...

Beholding Glory

The second coming can be super abstract to some, and even a little fictional to others. As Christians, we live our lives holding on to this day, when everything will come together and finally, we'll go to heaven and live in a perfect world. All our hopes will be fulfilled. And all our struggles will disappear and it will 'all be worth it'. But one thing that was made very clear to me this morning, was that the presence of God's glory at the second coming will be revealed to us in a way that w...

Shedding the Old

Spiders shed their exoskeleton in oder to grow! I know, some fo you didn't know that, neither did I until last night. An encounter with a spider last night gave me some solemn thoughts about growth. Its hard work, its painful (I didn't ask the spider but it looked like it was in pain lol), its draining and it makes us extremely vulnerable to predators. Personal growth is the same. It's not an easy stage of existence, but it's crucial nonetheless