Messages of hope

‘What do you love about holidays?’ For many people January is a great time for holidays. It’s good to break the routine and get away from some of the daily pressures of everyday life. Sometimes though, holidays don’t always work out how we imagine. So how do we find that rest and restoration when holidays become disasters or time and money just don’t allow us to get away?  Ali and Celia explore ho...

As Christmas approaches, the world seems to glow just a little brighter. From fairy lights on houses to candles held at carols by candlelight, light has become a powerful symbol of the season. But beyond the sparkle and celebration, Christmas invites us to reflect more deeply on what light really means, especially in times of darkness. Listen to Bishop Paul’s message about how the light of Christ...

Many people think of God as some mysterious force floating around the galaxy and entering into our lives via coincidence or miracles. The important message of Christmas is that God actually entered our world, physically, as the baby Jesus.  Rev Adrian Kitson explores the question “what if God was really one of us?”.

‘Sometimes I think we can be infatuated by those big faith moments, yet actually it's more the gradual hearing and growing in that relationship with God is what he wants and then him sustaining us through.’ What is it really like to live a life of faith in the big and small moments of life? Hear Sarah, Richard and Jo share their experience of faith in the everyday moments of life. Find hope in...

‘They had already labelled her, never to do anything, never to be able to walk, talk or do anything. But I see the determination in her, I will not let the disability make her be disabled.’   Chris's daughter, Rachel, was diagnosed at age three with a rare genetic disorder. After battling against doctors who didn't believe her and even accused her of mistreating her daughter, Chris develop...

‘No one is immune to domestic and family violence’ Professor Sarah Wendt has dedicated her life to understanding the impacts of domestic violence and hearing the stories of victims and survivors in Australia. Hear her insights from personal stories about the causes and effects and where we may find hope in such a painful topic.

Listen to Deena's powerful story of finding hope in homelessness.  Watch the interview with Deena on our YouTube Channel. Read Deena's poem here - 'Mercy Mercy'

'You know you have that little voice in your head saying I should be able to manage I should be able to do this this and this all of it together. You know you feel like you should be able to do it all.' Life can be crazy and chaotic at the best of times, even more so in recent times. Celia, Noel and Richard discuss how we can live each day when the future is so uncertain.

‘How much of what happens in the spiritual world do you think impacts on your day-to-day living?’ Judging by the number of horror movies out there, our society seems to have quite the fascination with the spiritual realm. While some find it fascinating, others find it scary, thinking that perhaps we shouldn't meddle with things outside of our understanding. Christians know that there is a spir...

‘Lutheran Media – Celebrating 80 years of blessings’ Throughout the life of Lutheran Media ministries in Australia and New Zealand, we’ve seen advancements in technology, name changes, financial constraints and much more. Yet our vision has remained – sharing messages of hope in the world today. Hear stories from the first radio broadcast in Australia, reflections from former directors and present...

‘I think science has helped us to see how much God loves us. Because you know, he has given us the ability now to see the galaxies and things like that, the extent of the universe. But he has also given us the ability to be able to see the microorganisms and under the microscopes.’ Father Peter Moore, an Anglican priest from the Gold Coast, shares his passion of creation care. Hear his reflections...

“We were in this little plane, caught in a thunderstorm and the pilot said – I’m sorry guys, we’re not going to make it, we’re gonna go down - and man, that makes you think about living and dying!” Death is not a topic that we tend to talk about over a BBQ. Most of us don’t talk about death until it’s on our doorstep. Celia and Richard talk with Jonathan Krause about why we don’t need to be afraid...

'I was yelling at the kids.  I would just start raging, "You never do anything. It's always left to me, blah, blah." I’d just go on and on until I was exhausted. Then I felt absolutely awful because now I'm the worst mother in the world.' Do you ever feel like your emotions are in charge of you rather than the other way around? Stella's anger was scaring her children,...

‘When driving in the Australian bush and you see a kangaroo on the road, all the old farmers used to tell me that it’s not the one you see that will get you, it’s the one you don’t see. So, is life just a random set of coincidences? I believe that life is more than just getting by.’ We don’t have to look too hard to discover disasters happening all around the world. But what about closer to home?...

‘We were lying in bed one day and I’m just leaning on my elbows like this and she’s there looking up at me and talking and she just said - Who are you? It ripped me apart.’ It’s hard to imagine what it would feel like when the person you’ve loved for over 50 years doesn’t know who you are. Hear John’s inspiring story of loyalty and love, in the face of Dementia.

Foster caring is something many families in Australia might consider at some point, but ultimately choose not to for many reasons. It's challenging to care for children with traumatic backgrounds. There are lots of hoops to jump through. Plus, there's the risk of developing strong bonds with children who may leave your care at any point. While few families take on the responsibility of foster care...

Every child has the right to belong, to be loved, and to have a safe place to call home. Unfortunately, we live in a world where that isn't always the case, but there are some whofeel a specific calling to step into the world of caring for children not their own in order to bring hope, where hope is often in short supply. Hear from Natalie from Lutheran Care who works in foster care family engagem...

‘Over 80% of Australians crowd together in cities and large towns yet so many feel alone. Have you ever faced such a lonely time? Do you feel there is very little to hold on to, to keep you going in life? There is a way forward, a step we can take to become connected once again.’   Do you sometimes look at the people around you and think ‘I wish I could be like them’? While social media is a great...

‘So, I had lunch with mum and dad yesterday and I just realised how much they’ve aged, and I don’t think I’m ready, I’m not ready for the change!’ We hear about the fact that we’re living in an ageing society but what about when it becomes personal and it’s your parents that are getting older? Listen as Celia and Richard explore the challenges adult children face as their parents get old.  

Have you ever heard or used the saying, ‘I remember when...’? Remembering who we are is important to us. Listen to Richard as he shares stories of his grandfather and his journey of memories. When diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the memories fade, but there is hope in remembering whose we are and the comfort it brings.     

‘I think if we really take to heart that we’re actually God’s creation ourselves and he wants to work with us, then we can make a huge difference in the way we manage the land that we’ve been granted. We’re only custodians for a short time, but we can make a difference.’ Hear David as he shares his experience of regenerative farming and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

‘Every little element that I see, and I touch, and I hear, and I feel, is all part of God's creation. In what I do in my yard, in what I do on my verge on my side street, I care for God's creation. We can see it groaning at times and we need to respond.   Hear Cathryn, a passionate environmental advocate, share her knowledge and experience in sustainable practices. Discover how her faith a...

‘You’re fired!’ These are not the words you want to hear – ever! Are you struggling with an uncertain future due to job insecurity? This uncertainty can cause an incredible amount of stress in your life and in the lives of others around you. Richard Fox looks at the effects of job insecurity and some things that can help you get through the uncertainty.

‘I said, that's it. Isn't it. You always get your way. And I walked out. I was really great. Wasn't it? Here am In supposed to be teaching reconciliation and you know, this is, this is humanity at its best. Isn't it? So, uh, well maybe it's at it's worst.’ Paul, as someone who has worked in reconciliation, shares his own stories of conflict and what he has learned along the...

'A doctor’s job is to cure sometimes, to relieve often and to comfort always.' Do you like visiting the doctor? For some people the only way you’ll get them to go to the doctor is in the back of an ambulance! Listen as Richard talks about the impact doctors have on our lives and how Jesus is like the best doctor we could ever have.