LISTEN TO THE RIGHT VOICE— GOD’S!

(February 25, 2025) Dr Richard Winter reflects…

Recently I was in a meeting with eight others and the task set before us was to examine major trends affecting the modern-day police force.

At one point we happened to focus on young people and agreed that they are technologically savvy—

  • They all have smart phones connected to the internet; If they’re somewhere and they photograph it, it’s instantly on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube!

Thinking then about modern technology, we acknowledged that if a virus can be planted in anyone’s  phone/computer, we may never get the message and our ability to communicate is compromised. That this is a digital world of communication — and if a cell phone today isn’t 5G then it’s an old phone!

(more…)

WHEN FACING DIFFICULTIES, OPPOSITIONS AND TROUBLES

(February 20, 2025… Editorial Note: Posting date only, article was written some weeks ago) Sam Selva Raj shares another of his ministry experiences, encouraging believers to rely on God, fully trusting Him…

Most of the time whenever we had started a new ministry for the expansion of the kingdom of God, we had to face various types of oppositions and difficulties. Sometimes troubles came from the devil directly… and sometimes troubles came through people.

(more…)

PRAYERS— FOUR ESSENTIAL ATTITUDES!

(February 17, 2025) Dr Richard Winter, having shared great points on prayer last month, shares more…

I heard a story about a young girl who wrote a prayer letter to a missionary. She was trying to lend her support to him. But, evidently, she’d been told not to request a response because the missionaries were very busy and her letter began— ‘Dear Mr Missionary, we’re praying for you. But we’re not expecting an answer.’

What she wrote summarises the prayer life of most Christians! We do a lot of praying… but we don’t expect an answer.

We need  to look at four attitudes we must have when praying to our God— all based on the little word ‘willing.’ Small word maybe, but huge in meaning! Dictionaries explain that it’s an active word indicating that one is happy to do something if it’s needed eg ‘A willing person does their work energetically and enthusiastally.’ Such attitude and action is regarded as approved… it’s a settled way of thinking about something.

Let’s look then at the willingness that you must have when praying to our God. You must be willing to let Him answer according to His own—

(more…)

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS FOR US?

(February 10, 2025) Mama Lava, sharing from her heart, challenges us to trust our loving and caring God…

February! What a great month!

And what a perfect topic we have on the Back Porch: God is for us!

Initially I didn’t chose this topic on purpose. Last year, as I sat with the Lord, planning a 2025 roadmap through the topic of overcomimg anxiety, I did not realise how appropriate it would be to talk about God being for us during this month of love. But, my friends, that is how God works! He knew what He wished me to share this month— and His timing is perfect.

(more…)

THERE’S ZERO PRESSURE TO BE PERFECT

(February 08, 2025) Carol Round reflects…

Listening to a local Christian radio station recently, I heard a commentator say: ‘You’re under zero pressure to be perfect.’ I’d missed the opening introduction to her statement but this sentence struck a chord with me.

I’m a recovering perfectionist raised by a mother who expected my sister and me to be perfect. It wasn’t so much our behaviour as she expected us to do everything perfectly. She set high standards for us at home and in our schoolwork.

(more…)

RUN TO WIN!

(February 07, 2025) Angeline Selvakumari encourages…

It was the 1986 Asian Games and the 800m final in Seoul was about to take place. The entire nation was on the edge of its seat, eagerly anticipating a nail-biting finish by Shiny Abraham, one of India’s finest athletes. Expectations soared as people hoped she would secure the gold medal.

When Shiny crossed the finish line first, the pride and joy felt by every Indian were indescribable. Cheers of jubilation echoed from households across the country. However, the euphoria was short-lived. Moments later, it was announced that Shiny had been disqualified for changing lanes too soon.

(more…)

SURROUNDED BY GOD’S FAVOUR!

(February 06, 2025) Norman and Margaret Moss share another precious meditation…

On the wall of my grandmother’s kitchen there was a large poster advertising Pears’ Soap. 

It was a picture of age and poverty. An extremely old couple in poor clothing sitting facing one another across an almost bare table. Yet their wrinkled faces conveyed happiness and love. Between them was a large mixing bowl full of soapy water, and the man was using his clay pipe to blow a large bubble. Other bubbles were floating to the ceiling  and the wife was watching him with loving delight.  

(more…)

MANDATE MINISTRIES UPDATE

(January 30, 2025) Editorial notation:

It’s been a delight to regularly feature the missionary ministry of Ross and Donna Winchester, Mandate Ministries— their Chiang Mai, northern Thailand and Myanmar ministry— and to advise updates regarding Ross’ health challenges.

Despite not being unwell he and Donna had returned to Thailand last month to encourage those who shared in the ministry, as well as church leaders. Unfortunately they had return to Australia December 28.

His natural family— and broader denomation family— have shared the following sad news… reminding us of the good news that Ross is with the Lord, the one he loved, served and shared.

(more…)

TIME A-WASTING? THEN SEIZE THE DAY!

(January 28, 2025) Robert and Maureen McQuillan encourage moving on in God…

We’re well into 2025… virtually February! Soon it’ll be Easter— not just choco eggs and bunny rabbits saga but celebrating our Saviour’s resurrection securing our forgiveness of sin and guarantee of eternal life!

Time really does fly it seems, especially to us seniors. Recently quite a few ‘oldies’ have said this to us and we’ve been encouraging them to keep on keeping on, especially if they’re still in ministry!

Yes it’s true that time does appear to go by so quickly when one gets older reminding us of that classical Latin phrase tempus fugit— ‘time flies’— attributed to Virgil‘s Georgics where it appears as fugit irreparabile tempus: ‘It escapes, irretrievable time.’

(more…)

NAHUM AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

(January 24, 2025) Dr Jim McClure shares a timely challenge from history…

We’re living in a time of great political upheaval, international hostility, social division and moral confusion! Sometimes it’s hard to watch television news for so many reports are about violence and bloodshed and protestors chanting threatening slogans. In fact, to a greater or lesser degree this has always been a significant part of our world’s sad history.

(more…)