The following blogs have been contributed by members of the United Church of God - Australia, and aim to invoke further inspiration and thought on the Word of God.
NOTE: This Blog is temporarily on hold, in lieu of the regular Bible Insight Weekly articles available here.
Have you ever wondered how incredible and enjoyable your life would be if you won the lottery? ‘You’ve got to be in to win it!’ – as they say. Is wealth, though the true source of a happy, satisfying and Godly life? Can we learn some extremely valuable lessons from a man who dedicated his entire life to this very question?
Have you ever wondered where was God during the many years the Children of Israel were in captivity and under the cruelty of Egyptian taskmasters? Have you ever wondered from time to time where is God when you, your family or friends are having difficulties in life? We can learn how God delivers from the story of the exodus.
Is there an event or celebration in your life which you particularly remember fondly? The night after the Passover is of special significance and observance to many Christians. What is this night to be much observed?
Why should I? Why should I help out my neighbour when he never helps me? What if Jesus had thought that way? Jesus Christ didn't just die for our sins, He lived in a world full of sinners, loving and serving them every minute that He had.
Do you identify yourself as a Christian? Are you a follower of Jesus Christ - the Passover for all humanity? How will you commemorate His death till He comes?
Have you made any New Year’s resolutions so far this year? Are you up for a New Year’s challenge which will set you on a life changing experience and a journey of discovery?
Read on!!
This time of the year is a festive season, with Christmas just passed and preparations for New Years’ eve celebrations next on the minds of many.
1st January 2018 starts a brand new year. The calendar is the time keeper for what we do in life. The calendar determines for us – those who use the Gregorian calendar - when we see the old year out, and the new year in.
But do we ever stop to give consideration as to how time began? For the Christian, whose foundation of belief is the Bible, we believe God created time.
Have you been looking forward to the Christmas Season with all the Christmas cheer this time of the year brings – Christmas light displays, Christmas songs in all the stores and shops or maybe the carols by candlelight? Would you be interested to learn more about the true meaning of Christmas? My wife and I some fifty years ago made the decision not to observe Christmas. Does this surprise you? We were raised in Christian families and Christmas had been a part of our religious celebration but we had taken for granted that Jesus Christ – our Lord and Saviour – was actually in Christmas.
The world is in the “bondage of corruption” and this is the environment in which we live.
However God promises salvation. He saves us through a process that takes time – a lifetime. As Christians, genuinely seeking to follow Christ, do we know fully what is this process and how we can participate in and embrace it?
Many self-help advisors claim that ‘Everything you need is already within you’. But is this really true? What does the Word of God - the Bible - have to say?
Australians are indeed embracing Halloween in greater numbers and spending more money on this festival. Halloween decorations are more readily available in the shops and online and people are embracing this festivity with greater enthusiasm.
It all looks like so much fun and seems so harmless.
But is Halloween really harmless?
Even those who are not Christians know of the many wonderful miracles performed by Jesus Christ throughout His human ministry which are recorded in the Bible. However, how many understand that these remarkable good deeds – which were too numerous for all to be recorded – demonstrate the kind of world He will lead as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in the coming Kingdom of God?
What if I'm not good enough? Many of us find ourselves asking that question often in some form – maybe even daily – perhaps even moment by moment. We can discover from the Bible that God's measure of success is very different from what we naturally expect of ourselves.
What events are we witnessing now? Are things getting better, or rapidly getting worse? Are we heading for the time of the end and beyond?
The Smyrna church had something of which Jesus took particular notice. It was not their standing in this world with respect to this world’s wealth or position. They were rich in something else that was so much more esteemed by Jesus Christ. How did He regard them as rich?
Professed belief in the name of Jesus is what most Christians do, but repentance and turning to God through Jesus Christ results in a complete change.
Does the bible have anything to say about tattoos and is it relevant for us today?
The children of Israel were unaware of the greater meaning of these feasts of the Lord. To them the meaning was the representation of the harvests, and it would remind them of the blessings God would bestow on them in the harvest. Are you aware of the First Harvest in God’s plan of salvation for all humanity?
What does the word joy bring to your mind? Happiness? Smiling a lot? Fun? Can we completely understand what joy really is? Can we have truly lasting joy?
Last year, I came across a headline on Facebook: "Trump Collapses and Dies of Heart Attack!”. In disbelief, I immediately did a search and came up with nothing. Something so shocking and world-shaking would obviously have been all over the internet! It was fake!!
So how can we know what is truth?
The Apostle Paul writes: "Therefore let us keep the feast; not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” Because of, the sacrifice that Jesus made we should go on and keep the feast “with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” What feast is this?
Jesus chose to “taste death for every person.” He experienced suffering of unimaginable magnitude, and He died – not because He sinned, but because we sinned. In this there is no greater love. In this God’s great love for you and for me is manifest.
Most people don't realize that waging peace is more challenging than waging war! We have to work at peace – we must make it our goal and do all we can do to bring it about.
Last week I wrote about how physical observances help us to understand the depths of God's spiritual plan of salvation. It is important to really understand God's plan of salvation as pictured in the Holy Day seasons, so I would like to continue our journey and discuss some astounding truths.
The first Holy Day season, Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is special in that it reveals and describes the two major steps a person must experience to attain eternal life.
by Reg Wright
Good Friday is the day that the Christian world in general commemorates the death of Jesus on the Cross, and the resurrection of Jesus is celebrated on Easter Sunday.
But was Jesus crucified on a Friday, and did He rise from the grave on Sunday morning?
by Roger Waite
When I was young my mother was always insistent that on Good Friday we would have fish and chips for dinner that night. When I questioned her and asked her why, her answer was that Jesus didn't eat meat on Good Friday and so we eat fish to commemorate that.
Do you know where this tradition of eating fish on Friday originated?
What will you be doing next week? Anything special? Or will next week be just like any other week? My family and I will be observing one of the most important commands of God.
Next week begins God's Holy Day calendar with the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. Does God really require us to follow physical observances like these?
We need forgiveness of sin more than we need anything else. 
by Bill Bradford
The man knew it was to be soon. The results of His teachings and works astounded people at the beginning. But, slowly, things began to change. The storm clouds were brewing. At the beginning He was popular, new, refreshing. Lame people walked at His Word. Lepers were cleansed, the blind were able to see for the first time, loved ones were raised from their deathbeds, and good news was declared to them as it came from God.
When Jesus came on the scene He preached a message of hope and deliverance.
Do you sometimes feel inadequate or unworthy? 
by Joe Rivers
Do you sometimes feel inadequate or unworthy? Lots of self help gurus attempt to address questions like this one but the true, life changing answer isn't found in the latest best seller. It's found in a simple little story you were told as a child.
Rain, in the Word of God is something God sends or withholds. by Bill Bradford
Our weather scientists are able to explain weather patterns that affect our great agricultural industry in Australia. They are able to predict the amount of moisture we will receive from year to year through measurement of ocean temperatures, among other data. Predicting life giving rain leaves out one great factor. Rain, in the Word of God is something God sends or withholds.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). by Bill Bradford
Do you have the mind of Christ? As a human, the mind of Christ is perhaps the greatest of all things we can acquire but it doesn't come easily.
The carrot, the egg and the coffee bean 
by Reg Wright
The carrot, the egg, and the coffee bean - which one are you?
Increase in violent incidents and the severity of violence in younger people is a most disturbing trend in Australia. The "king hit" now seems to be so common that we are no longer surprised when we hear reports on the nightly news.
by Bruce Dean
Forget unruly in-laws or irritating habits, research shows one of the biggest causes of marital discord is Australians hiding personal debt from partners. Is this a concern in your marriage?
What is the best way to give an apology? by Matt Sieff
What is the best way to give an apology? Christ gave us a depth of divine instruction during His Sermon on the Mount. Much of His teachings centered around getting our relationship right with God, and with others.
by Ken Murray
The reason why we have so much suffering in this world is because human beings have rejected and forsaken God and stubbornly will not turn and seek God now while He may be found. God has allowed humankind to write into history the vitally important lesson, that humankind's way, apart from God, does not work.
by Richard Bent
As he walked, Henry could feel the weight of the old brass key in his pocket. His mind drifted back to that day over a year ago to when he received the key.
Henry had gone away to enjoy the sights and attractions of the world. But he found no real happiness and contentment in those activities. It was only when he returned home to his Father that he had peace of heart and mind.
The letter read "My dear son, ever since you left all those years ago, my greatest desire has been for you to someday return home to us and to put God once again in your life. This key opens a box that is on the shelf behind my desk in the workshop office. It contains my most precious possessions. They are yours whenever you need them."
Do you have a 'Key' which will open the way back to your, our Father? Isn't it time you used it to return home?
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