When people say, “You don’t have to attend church to be a Christian” we now know, because of the word אוֹת that is a load of nonsense. The Lord’s day is a sign and pledge God has established between Him and His people, and it should not be trashed, or disregarded as inconvenient in our schedules.

Dr Cody stunned the panel with her unblinking insistence. The great irony in all of this from Ms Gillard to Dr Cody is that it is women at the highest levels of national administration who are creating the worst of misogynistic outcomes in law – and everyday women and girls are losing rights whilst biological men who want to identify as women are benefiting.

Many Christians today live quite compartmentalised lives and their discipleship – which the Bible teaches is a holy, spiritual way of living that glorifies God – is one of the smaller compartments.

The, often hidden, restoration work that God is doing in us as we persevere in faith trusting His process, has two incredible outcomes…

We CANNOT sit around and lament the rise of evil in our society as we are seeing, especially when we are partly to blame. We’ve almost lost our saltiness … As I have said many times before in these pages, the people of God need to mobilise and intercede like never before. The only difference is that now it is more urgent than ever before.

…if all that was still sinful in me was surgically removed in one fell swoop – if that were possible - there wouldn’t be much of me left. Too much of my soul and flesh would be gone for me to survive the experience of such huge immediate change. And this is why…

Competition, not cooperation. Hierarchy and control, instead of equality and mutuality - a far cry from the holy function of the image of God in both women and men. The great overarching salvation narrative of the scriptures details God’s loving determination to restore the function of His image in human beings.

Recently I had a phone call from a distressed woman who is in a psychiatric ward. She was desperate. Very frightened, and very, very alone. She was sobbing her heart out. Her family (her own adult kids) had put her there, because she is too much of a responsibility for them when she is out of care. She does have…

The word used for “remembrance” here by Luke, is anamnēsis [ἀνάμνησις] which is a bit more than remembering a past event like a birthday. Anamnēsis means to bring to mind and recollect and enter into the power of the historical event which has eternal force and, at the same time, experience its enduring power.

He finished his coffee, and then Mr Pashalis walked down his driveway and came to where I was sitting. He gazed at me silently. I gazed back with an awkward smile and extended my hand in greeting. He did the same. And he held my hand in a warm and firm handshake. As he looked at me I saw his eyes brimming with tears.

That is what we will be doing in heaven. We will be wearing white robes and waving palm branches before the Lamb. Just as God has planned it. Consecrate yourself and prepare…

So, consecration is no accidental, occasional religious thing. It is a ruthless, intentional commitment to pursue holiness that gives space, cooperation and faithful yielding to our Sanctifier who makes us holy. Which is summed up thus…

“Eagerly”? What can this possibly mean as the cross looms large this night, and Jesus knowing they will all disown Him and flee. Yet, “I have eagerly desired …”

Our freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression – basic human rights, which are NOT explicitly enshrined in the Australian Constitution, by the way – are being systematically and systemically eroded by government. This is not conspiracy theory paranoia – it is happening democratic systems.

Being at table with Jesus challenges our lukewarmness. It rekindles. It refreshes and revives … and it restores. One of the most significant moments in Luke’s Gospel is where Jesus …

Only just recently one man asked me, as we were having a coffee at the local caffeine dispensary, “So what’s in all this for God? What’s in it for Him, if He is the boss of everything? Like, He doesn’t need anything, right?” And that was a very, very good question.

“Why cannot My people pursue holiness – pursue Me – with the same relentless energy as these miners to whom nothing else mattered?”

Sound extreme? I guess to the first-time reader it would seem like that, because we don’t understand holiness. And the central issue in all of this is God’s holiness.

But the big question for me, as I meditated on this passage on my holiday break, was this: “How was this wisdom of God released to the world through Christ?” …

Enjoy this Christmas season and the beautiful worship that is so special as we celebrate the Word become flesh. And remember, as we do so, to pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters – and thank God for that first Hanukkah all those centuries ago. Without it, we wouldn’t have Christmas. Without the Jews, we wouldn’t have Jesus.