A Different Perspective Official Podcast

There's nothing worse than a hypocrite. One of the things we're called to be, if we believe in Jesus, is Ambassadors of Christ. But if how we live our lives – what we say, what we do – if our lives don't measure up – then what sort of Ambassadors are you and I going to make? When people look at us – what do they see?  An Ambassador, or a hypocrite? Let me ask you a question, if you're someone who...

Imagine having a job where you had to try to convince people of something you yourself didn't really believe. That'd be a tough gig don't you think. And yet that's how many a Christian feels when it comes to telling others about Jesus. Because if they themselves haven't experienced the powerful difference that He can make in their lives – on the inside – how can they possibly tell others about Him...

Most of the people who believe in Jesus have a sense that part of that involves sharing their faith – sharing their Jesus – with other people. That somehow, we're meant to be Ambassadors of Christ. But you look around at the culture in which we live, and you have to ask yourself – does anyone really want to know?  How do I share the Good News of Jesus in a world like this? Over this week and next...

Many a Christ follower has this feeling that something is missing. Oh – they may well be warming a pew on Sundays … but is their life really making an eternal difference here on earth? Jesus said something outrageous - He said that we would end up doing things even greater than the things He did while He was on the Earth. Question is – did He mean that about thee and me? Hmm? I know of people, peo...

Most of us are immersed in the cultures in which we live. And that's as it should be. But there's a risk for the person who believes in Jesus, in getting to thinking that they're a local … a citizen of this earth.  They're not – they're a citizen of Heaven and what's more, an Ambassador of Christ. Right now and depending on how you count some of the smaller ones, there are just over 200 countries...

We recently received a prayer request from Julia – a young woman who's trying to live out her faith – except that her family's giving her a hard time. Does Jesus have anything to say to help her live out her faith from a position of strength? Great that we can get together again! You know, it's Friday, another week is gone. Fridays are the days when we look at the pray requests that we receive at...

We all like to be liked. None of us wants to be rejected by other people. But Jesus came along and said blessed are you if they reject you because of me.  What sort of blessing is that? What did He mean? Persecution is something that happens to people across the world, religion, politics, belief, lifestyles, sexuality, all result in persecution. Sometimes people are persecuted for doing the right...

Jesus once said blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. What is a peacemaker?  What does he or she look like?  And is it worth the trouble just to be called a child of God? One of the things that we've become very good at in society is reinterpreting symbols that have traditionally meant one thing, to mean something else. Let me give you a couple of examples. Generatio...

Jesus once said blessed are the pure in heart. We all know that pure water is one of the essential ingredients to healthy life. But what about a pure heart?  What exactly did Jesus mean? At different times in our lives we all hunger for some sort of positive, spiritual experience, not ruled, not formalised religion, not ritual - but to taste for ourselves that God is good. To hear Him, to see Him,...

Every now and then, each of us has a bad hair day – we get out of the wrong side of the bed – one of those days when we're just not at our best.  Wouldn't it be great if on those days the people around us just cut us some slack. Let me ask you a question: Have you ever been feeling a bit off your game, off color, a bit down, a bit irritable? That happens to a lot of us. We all have our off days. B...

We recently received a prayer request from Peter who's struggling with his weight – it's affecting his health, his family. It's ruining his life. Is Jesus in that place with Peter – and if He is, can He make a difference? Well, it's Friday, and on Friday we always do something different. We look at somebody's prayer request that we have received. This week we received a request from Peter. He said...

Jesus once said Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. At first glance – we can think – oh great! Just another bunch of rules. But the one thing that Jesus wasn't into was religious rules.  So what did He mean? You know, by and large, we all want to live a good life, to do the right thing, but is it possible? It's taking this goody two-shoes thing a bit too far. Sure, murder is...

Jesus once said Blessed are the meek – because they will inherit the earth. How can that be – it's a dog eat dog world out there and there's plenty of dog to go around. How is it that the meek inherit the earth? Now meekness apparently is not a quality that we value in people these days. I haven't known many people who's great aspiration in life is to be meek. It is a quality that Jesus values gre...

Jesus once said Blessed are those who grieve and mourn. Whether we like it or not – we all go through tough times – and the last thing we feel is that we're blessed. What an odd thing for Him to say.  What did He mean by that? We all have hopes and dreams, don't we? We want to have a great childhood, a good education, a good job, a career, great husband or wife, wonderful children to grow up and m...

Jesus once said Blessed are the Poor in Spirit. Does that mean that Christianity's just for losers? Not on your life.  But what did He mean?  There's a powerful truth in that statement that can change our lives. I was listening to a song the other day, and one of the lines in the song said this, "We've conquered outer space but not inner space." It's true, you know. We've gone to the moon; we've d...

If you want to enjoy someone, you have to spend time with them. It's not rocket science, is it? So why is it that so many people believe in Jesus, want to follow Him, but they just never – well, enjoy Him? This morning I was up a bit early, a bit tired I'd have to confess but I made myself a cup of tea and I went and sat in my favourite arm chair in my study and just spent some time with God. It's...

We live life sometimes as though joy is something that we experience on the outside. But actually it's something that lives in our hearts. And when we try to store up rubbish in our hearts, we shouldn't be surprised if it doesn't come up smelling like roses. There's a basic maxim in today's society that if it feels good, just do it. As long as it doesn't hurt anyone else it's okay. In fact even if...

Sometimes we work so hard at enjoying our lives – we end up absolutely exhausted. Stress, tiredness, overwork are epidemics in our society. And you can't enjoy life, when you're always exhausted. I have a confession to make, I'm an addict but fortunately the thing that I'm addicted to is well, it's something good. It's called "the joy of the Lord".  God's joy is what I'm addicted to. I have to tel...

We all want to enjoy or lives. We do – but sometimes, we carry things around in our hearts, that rob us of that joy. Like unforgiveness. We blame other people, but the reality is, it's up to us to deal with unforgiveness. We've all been in a place where we've been hurt by someone. Maybe it was just being ignored or excluded from something or perhaps someone went out of their way to stab us in the...

Joy is such a wonderful thing – it's something that Jesus wants for each one of us. But sometimes people and things and circumstances come along, like a thief in the night, to steal it away. It's great to be with you at the beginning of another week, gee the time rolls by quickly doesn't it? Now imagine, imagine for a moment that a thief breaks into your house while you're out, he's come to steal...

I don't know about you – but I spent years wandering in the wilderness because I felt that I wasn't good enough for God.  And so I spent years on missing out on His love and His joy.  What a waste! This week on the program we've been talking about receiving and living in the joy of God. A joy that people look for in all sorts of weird and wonderful places but a joy that only ever comes from God Hi...

We tend to think of joy and sorrow as being two emotions at opposite ends of the spectrum.  But joy – real joy it turns out is like an antidote for the bitterness of sorrow.  It always has been. When it comes to experiencing joy in our lives, for most of us, well we think that joy and sorrow are mutually exclusive. You can't know joy when you're under pressure or you've just lost someone you loved...

Some people try to believe in Jesus from a distance. I tried – and believe you me, it just doesn't work. So when you talk to them about the joy of the Lord – they say "Sure – but not for me." Really? Over the last couple of days on the program we've been talking about the fact that it's God's plan to fill us completely and utterly with His joy, to make our joy complete but how easy is it to stand...

Joy is one of those things we all want to have.  Not one person on this planet who doesn't want it.  So – where does it come from.  I mean who's idea is it and…well, is it for me? There is something awesome about being around a person who has a deep sense of joy. Maybe you know one or two people like that and you know, often they're not sort of over the top and really out going people, sometimes t...

Joy is one of those precious commodities that seems to be in such short supply. We go looking for it everywhere – so many things promise joy, but end up being just a mirage. Why is that? It's great to be with you on a fresh new week on the program and today we're starting a series of ten programs, this week and next week, to take a look at joy. It's such a simple little word isn't it? Only three l...