faith

MARKS OF MATURITY (Part 3— JAMES AND THE TONGUE)

(June 06, 2025) Dr Richard Winter shares a vital challenge…

High School in my day was where they prepared you for your university experience. If you were to take a Bachelor Arts Degree you would need to have a language— our choice was Latin or French. Latin? Aww… that’s a dead language and no one spoke that! But French? Now that sounded good; had me dreaming that perhaps one day I would go to Paris. Off we went learning our French vocabulary.

And as inquisitive teenagers we soon learned some French phrases that were not complimentary— like Ferme la bouche— shut your mouth! I tried it on my sisters at home but my mother worked out that what I was saying was not a compliment.… and I got into trouble!

Have you ever said something that you later regretted saying? On the other hand, have you ever wished you had said something that you later regretted not saying?

(more…)

MARKS OF MATURITY (Part 2)

(May 21, 2025) Dr Richard Winter continues his vital challenge that Christians should grow in Christ, maturing in their faith. In this Part 2, he shares on some marks of Christian maturity…

1. Participant not Spectator!
This a self-revealing truth! When you join any branch of the military— army, navy, air force, marines, space force— the day you take the oath of allegiance to serve, the day you put your uniform on, you are no longer a civilian or spectator.

(more…)

ANXIETY STEMS FROM MISPLACED TRUST!

(May 14, 2025) Mama Lava, sharing from her heart, reminds us of another great truth…

Hello again!

Trust is our theme this month, as we work on alleviating our anxiety. Specifically trust in God.

Think about this… we put our trust in many things every day. We trust that—

  • What we buy online will arrive as described.
  • The amount charged on our various bills is accurate.
  • Our cars will get us from point of origin to destination without breaking down.
(more…)

WINNING THE BATTLE OF EVIL WITHIN

(March 30, 2025) Robert McQuillan challenges…

Albert Einstein said, ‘I do not fear the explosive power of the atom bomb. What I fear is the explosive power in the human heart.’

Interesting observation from the famous scientist who revered Almighty God. Einstein was saying that while the atom bomb has the capacity to destroy, the human heart can hold a greater destructive power!

Sadly we‘re living in days when evil hearts can be devastating unfriendly; and our enemy Satan continues to destroy faith in God and righteous living.

Someone even more perceptive than Einstein commented on more than one occasion about the evil in the human heart… Jesus. Boy, did He have a lot to say!

Jesus’ Wise Teachings
What He taught still stands! Here’s just some of the things Jesus had to say to those—

(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…)

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…)

PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE!

(January  23, 2025) Dr Richard Winter encouragingly hits home…

If I told you that you were going to have the opportunity to talk with Jesus for fifteen minutes today and could make one request of Him, what would be your request? If you could ask Him anything, would you ask for protection, a new job, money… or just what would you ask?

The disciples got this opportunity one time. Luke 11:1 tells of them caming to Jesus with a specific request— ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ 

Desire
Why, of all the things they could have asked of Jesus, did they ask that?

(more…)

FOCUS ON JESUS IN 2025!

(January 18, 2025) Carol Round shares some more thoughts re 2025…

In sixth grade, an eye exam revealed the need for glasses. As a pre-teen, I knew my classmates would tease me when I showed up at school with bottle-thick lenses in my frames.

Donning my new glasses at home, one of the first things I noticed was our kitchen tile. I’d always thought it was solid green until my eyeglasses helped me focus on the subtle black-and-white dots of various sizes sprinkled across each tile.

Despite my classmate’s teasing, a whole new world opened up to me when I could focus on the things I’d been missing. Though I eventually switched to contact lenses, I’ll never forget the change in my eyesight with the help of glasses.

Focus on Spiritual Growth
After reading a Christian article several years ago, I began choosing a word for the New Year. While there’s nothing wrong with making New Year’s resolutions, the author pointed out most people find them restrictive and ultimately ditched after a few months.

(more…)

MANDATE MINISTRIES UPDATE

(December 24, 2024) Ross and Donna, Mandate Ministries, share regarding their Chiang Mai, northern Thailand and Myanmar ministry, and an update regarding Ross’ health…

Hi friends, we are back in Chiang Mai now and loving it!

We’ve had the opportunity to catch up with many of our ministry partners, as well as preaching in some of the great churches in this city.

Ross achieved a significant milestone last week as he submitted his research thesis to the examiners on Leadership Development Programs in Northern Thailand, after four years of research, blood, sweat, and tears. Woo hoo!

Christmas Programs for Karen People
We were able to provide much needed food, supplies, as well as Bibles for the Karen people at two special events last week. Our team organised Christmas programs where food parcels and gifts were distributed.

The gospel was preached and the Karen people received the word and the Christmas gifts with great appreciation.


Ross’s Health Update
Ross recently underwent a CT scan and X-ray to determine the progression of the cancer in his body. It appears that the cancerous lesion in the liver has doubled in sizeover the last 2.5 months.

In the natural this is obviously not a good sign, fortunately we are not living in the natural and believing God for divine intervention to reverse this accursed cancer. Please pray with us for the total eradication of every cancer cell in Ross’s body, for total restoration of health and wholeness, and for overflowing strength and energy levels.

Christmas Camp
Ross was invited to be the speaker at a three-day church Christmas camp recently. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and ministry. It was very much an international camp with two church members not only from Thailand but also from Argentina, Nigeria, Malaysia, Philippines, Brazil, USA, and Karen people from Myanmar.

Thanks again for your faithful prayers and support of our ministry to Asia.

Special Prayer Requests

  • Quick and total healing for Ross. ‘Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases’ (Psalm 103:2-3).
  • Peace and reconciliation in Myanmar.
  • For the Karen believers to rise up and declare the kingdom of God is here and expect to see the signs and wonders that will accompany it.
  • Finances for provisions for the Karen people and to print more Bibles: Sponsorship is code FW061; printing of Karen Bibles, relief and general ministry to the Karen people is code FW061D, and can be designated via this link https://donate.acci.org.au/form-6504140/fw061-ross-donna. Know that you can make a difference

___________________________________________
Ross and Donna, Mandate Ministries, have been missionaries to Asia for many years. Based in  Chiang Mai, they have worked with local pastors and church-planters, developing in-service leadership training programs that address challenges and issues unique to this area of Thailand. Link rossw@investeternal.com
___________________________________________

BREAKING MANMADE RELIGIOUS RULES

(November 29, 2024) Wayne Swift once again calls it as it is…

Often our speech is filled with promises, hopes, and New Year resolutions— all of which are soon forgotten or deliberately ignored or broken, especially the latter! And the older we get the more we’ll stay safely within the parameters imposed on us by our upbringing and experiences. ‘Breaking-out’ is a term for the often midlife crises.

I actually want to share with you about breaking-out from certain rules, not promises, hopes or resolutions! Deliberately stepping out and intentionally going against some rules that are imposed on us takes a special sort of attitude.

Now many people break rules every day— road laws perhaps by speeding or using mobiles while driving. Many an adult breaks even simple dietary rules. Every day TV news tells of rules being broken not just by adults but even by students, by teenagers regarding certain things.

Some rules when broken create a sense of guilt, some a sense of freedom. But… before you work out which rules you might be guilty of breaking today, let me share about the sort I think should be broken.

(more…)