I’m Suffering. Is God Punishing Me?
Ever since writing Resurrection Year I've received hundreds of emails from people sharing their broken dreams and heartaches. In some, I've noticed a subtle belief that their trials are divine retribution of some kind—a punishment for their mistakes or wrongs. If you've ever felt the same, you're not alone. But the feeling needs to be
How to Help a Friend Experiencing Infertility
Since going public with our own story of childlessness Merryn and I are often asked how to support a family member or friend going through infertility. So, to mark National Infertility Awareness Week (USA) here's a video addressing some of those questions. Originally filmed as a live webinar for church leaders, these insights will help
061 Three Questions to Ask When God Seems Silent
Although Merryn and I tried to start a family for 10 years, and sought God diligently the whole time, one of the most perplexing things about our journey was God’s silence. We heard him speak on other things during that time, but never on our pursuit of a family. It was hard. Biblical heroes experienced
046 Your Pain Can Get You Inside This Secret Tribe
There is a Tribe whose members are both hidden and everywhere around you. Initiation to this Tribe comes through suffering, inclusion comes through pain. If you’ve walked through the wilderness and born wounds from it, you’re an initiate. Take the vulnerable step of revealing your scars and you’ll soon be welcomed in.
043 How God Redeems Broken Dreams
Dreams. We all have them. As a teenager they keep us awake with excitement. As a 20-something they start shaping our decisions. By our 40s we may have seen them spring to life, or perhaps watched some die. The dreams of two families died in Sydney this week. Thankfully, God can recycle such tragedies into
The Day My Husband Was Arrested. A Letter from Kylie
'On December 12, 2010 my husband went to work early in the morning. That afternoon I received a phone call to say he'd been arrested for multiple offenses relating to child sexual abuse.' Please read Kylie's moving story, be encouraged by the faith that has gotten her through the deepest loss, and leave her a
Resources for the Christian Couple Facing Infertility
From the day a couple discovers conceiving naturally will be difficult, they are thrown into a complex world of options, opinions and decisions. Is IVF an ethical route to take? Should we foster or adopt? What about donor eggs or sperm, or surrogacy? Here are some resources that may be helpful for you or your
Announcing Our New Film on Dealing with Broken Dreams
This was never what Merryn and I expected to happen. I wrote a book about broken dreams. People started reading it. Emails came in from readers. The book got shortlisted for an award. And now they're making a documentary about it. Here's what happened behind-the-scenes of the filming this week!
Home Schooling My Autistic Son Helped Me Start Again
'Had I picked a resurrection year for myself, it wouldn't have looked like this' writes fantasy author LR Saul. 'And I would have missed out on so much.' Read on to discover how God surprises us with new beginnings - in Lisa's case, through home schooling her autistic son.
A Lesson on Courage
Each week 16 million people listen to BBC Radio 2. Now, not all of them were listening when I joined early morning host Alex Lester on Easter Monday to present the long-running Pause for Thought segment, but a few were! I was asked to talk about courage. Here's what I came up with.