Spotlight Australia

Drawing Australians closer to God through the life changing wisdom of the Bible as we reflect on news, trends, and issues that affect Australia. Want to share something with us? Drop us a line at australia@odb.org.

Coronavirus: Who's to Blame?

“Why is it happening again? Who’s to blame?”

I’m sure these questions are part of many conversations in Australia right now. With the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus dominating the headlines in Australia and the world, it’s easy to add one more accusing finger to the blame game.

Perhaps it’s a natural response to a crisis that evokes memories of the SARS…

Preparing For Marriage

 

It’s Valentine’s Day, a day when so many are focused on romance, relationships and love. It’s provided an opportunity for me to reflect on these realities in my life and the outworking of them in my faith.

 

It’s not uncommon for young Christian couples to get engaged. It’s also not uncommon for these young couples to be criticised for…

My New Year's Resolution

For most of my 20s my number one resolution each year was to become fit.  Actually, it was to hit my ideal body weight of 70kg. Being 5ft8 and weighing 52kg at the age of 23, I had enough of being underweight. I started working out, I joined a gym and became invested in my physical appearance. I was at…

Bushfire Crisis

It is hard to understand that a large chunk of Australia has been burning for months now. There are many people and entire communities around our country who have lost everything and are suffering at this time.

Our team has been praying for those who have been impacted by these fires and will continue to pray for safety for all Australians…

Summer of Loss

Australia’s out-of-control bushfires have been raging for months now, and are now described as the worst bushfires in our history. Television presenters spoke of firefighters driving through ‘hell’, even describing the fire front as Armageddon. 

So far more than 10 million hectares have been burnt across six states. Twenty-seven people have been killed, about 2,500 properties lost or partially destroyed, as…

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

We all experience days where we feel down, anxious, exhausted or discouraged. Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way we plan, as we face many unexpected twists and turns and ups and downs. Even the happiest and most optimistic people face moments of doubt.

 

If this describes your life’s journey, you are not alone. There are many instances in…

Once a Gambler

It’s Spring Racing Carnival time in Australia, and we know that because we are being inundated daily with horse-racing promotions and gambling advertising.

 

I was once a gambler and the Spring Racing Carnival, in particular the Melbourne Cup, used to be my favourite time of the year. It was a time to get dressed up in my best suit, favourite…

Letting Go

It happened so fast, in the blink of an eye. It seems like just yesterday I was teaching my son to read in Prep, and he would answer a polite “Yes Mum” or “No thanks Mum” to my questions. Now he has finished Year 12 exams and is yearning for independence. His next goal is to get his driver’s licence…

Getting Behind the Right Team

The day of 30 September, 2017, is a day I will always remember. It’s the day I watched my beloved Richmond Tigers cruise to a clean victory over the Adelaide Crows in the AFL Grand Final. It was a big moment. Richmond hadn’t won a premiership since 1980 and that was over a decade before I was even born. So…

Mental Health Month

Australians are set to embark on a national awareness campaign on mental health, with the launch of the inaugural National Mental Health Month in October. 

 

Mental health is a multi-layered, multi-faceted issue impacting all areas of society. Sadly, statistics show that 1 in 5 Australians are suffering from a mental illness in any given year, and over 45 percent of…

Caring Not in our Own Strength

My wife has a mental illness. The anxiety disorder and depression that she deals with have been a battle for most of her life, and part of our relationship dynamic for the 14 years I’ve known her. Over that time, I’ve had to learn what mental illness can look like, how it plays out in her life, and how to…

A Father's Legacy of Faith

As Father's Day approaches, an Aussie dad reflects on the lessons learnt as a parent about the love of our Heavenly Father.

A Second Chance

How long should a person have to suffer the consequences of their actions? We look at Australian cricketer Steve Smith and reflect on second chances.

Spring is here!

Spring is in the air! After months of winter chill and icy-cold mornings, nature is starting to thaw. Flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, birds are singing and warm winds are wafting. The sky is bluer and the grass is greener. 

 

It’s certainly easy to behold the beauty of God’s creation when it erupts in colour, birdsong and new life…