Category Archives: Spiritual Thoughts

Scott Adams and Jesus

January 14, 2026 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

Scott Adams has passed away. His last public statement is freely available on his socials. Here is part of what he has said.

Can the part about him being a believer be resolved when he wakes up? Has he really made a statement of belief here?

Let us think about the thief on the cross.

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43

His life stands as a beautiful example of someone who had very little time to be discipled, baptised or taught much about Jesus at all. He did have the rare opportunity to actually speak verbally to Jesus, and he is certainly with Jesus now. It is clear that the thief’s brief and last minute statement was accepted by Jesus as sincere. So let us know that many peoples death bed confessions and belief will be taken seriously by Jesus. I believe many people will come into heaven by the skin of their teeth. I’ve been involved pastorally in these moments and they give me great hope and comfort.

Scott has said here, “I am not a believer” but he then goes on to make a statement as though he is one. I know we cannot judge his sincerity or his heart and mind attitude. We can try and discern this, but ultimately Jesus will judge, and decide. I think people making such a statement will in time come to understand Jesus is real and they will believe. I really hope Scott is with Jesus.

If it was me, and thank God it is not, I would want more than a perfunctory statement. I prefer the heart cry of the thief.

Church, Leadership, Personal Reflection, Spiritual Thoughts

Not Yancey

January 9, 2026 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

From the very beginning of my ministry life I have sought out examples of spiritual leaders and pastors. Unfortunately in my life a common thread has been their failure to keep the covenant of their marriage pure. The Pastor who inspired me to be a pastor failed in this area. One of my key mentors and examples failed in this regard. I’ve watched others like Bill, Brian and now Phil fail. They have all been sources of inspiration to me at certain points in my ministry life. But in this key area they have failed.

Yancey is not a fancy sneaker wearing mega-church Pastor. He is a winsome, wise author whose journey from a legalistic church background to one of our most significant popular theologians was significant. How at such an elderly age, when the finishing line was approaching, could he fail so significantly. His books and thoughts have helped the church in generation altering ways. It is personally sad to see his legacy unwind.

What I have seen in this area of failure is there is no ‘brand’ of Christian leader who is more vulnerable. From the reformed conservatives to pentecostal attractional churches we can list a litany of leaders who have failed. It would be easy to categorise this as a style issue, it is not, it is clearly a spiritual one. While the reasons and conditions that allow it may vary, one element is the same. It is a sin. A breaking of the covenantal promise you made before God and community.

Marriage is a covenant, a promise you make, for life. Marriage is not easy. The person you marry is not the same person they were 30 years ago, and neither are you. Marriage is at its best is when you grow together, observing and witnessing the other person, encouraging them and cheering them on. Anyone who has been married for over ten years, twenty or thirty years will tell you it comes with equal measures of challenge, joy, commitment and strength.

Most pastors and spiritual leaders do not fail in this area. Most pastors are wonderful and authentic examples of long term commitment to one person for life. I have many great examples of this in my life.

Here are some thoughts in brief

You are only as accountable to any system, mentor, net nanny, as you allow. No system will stop you if you truly want to sin in this area. It is your choice.

I don’t understand how someone can effectively minister if they are continually sinning in this area. However there are many examples of Pastors who have been sinning significantly and yet at the same time continue to minister with ‘success’. I don’t understand this personally but I acknowledge it happens. To preach and share and lead I need the presence of the Holy Spirit. Without Him I am not able to minister effectively.

Those of us in leadership are more accountable to the church and community. There is a higher standard we have when we choose to teach and lead. If you don’t want this, don’t lead. I also acknowledge that some Pastors have unrealistic scrutiny and lack of support. This is unfortunate and may contribute to a spiritual failing. I have observed this in a church setting. It is not an excuse but may be a contributing reason.

Those of us in leadership are also more targeted in the spiritual realm. The Devil is real and works against us.

I believe and hope that staying close to Jesus, reading your bible prayerfully, singing and worshipping Jesus and daily meditating on God’s grace helps you stop sinning. The weekly rhythm of church helps us in spiritual discipline.

I think honest and open confession with a trusted friend, pastor, mentor, peer group, connect group will help. Openly sharing what is actually going on in your mind helps. A true friend will correct, rebuke and bring reality to you.

Church, Personal Reflection, Spiritual Thoughts, Stuff I don't know much about but rave on about anyway

Hope

December 18, 2025 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

Every time someone decides to have a child they show radical hope.

At my Church there has been something of a baby bonanza this past year with many babies welcomed into church life and family. It makes me happy. The sound of a baby crying in church is a good thing. It signals hope for the church.

As I have watched the various couples happily show up at church with their new born I am reminded that babies don’t come with a manual or a warning. Cause they come into and are welcomed into our lives, and we have no idea how much change they will bring about.

It is important to take in as a principle that they come into a family that already exists. They don’t rule or reign from birth, it is the parents role to guide them into adulthood. Yet they do shape us. They change us forever. They are significant. The choices they will make will cause us joy and pain.

As we approach Christmas I can’t help but be reminded again, as we read the Nativity story, that babies are about hope. Jesus was born into uncertain political times under the rule of a tyrant to a poor family who could not afford or influence their way into decent accomodation. Yet his parents had hope. As we absorb all the stories of a confused, politically unstable and selfish world, parents still choose to have babies. Because we hope, hope for a better day. Our children will shape the world.

As a parent myself I can say it is hard to raise children. My guiding principles have always been…

Make choices for them, that is your role, until it isn’t.

Take them to church whether they want to go or not, that is your family value

Pray for them, by name, daily. Hoping that they will make good choices when finally it is not your role to make choices for them anymore.

Bible, Church, Spiritual Thoughts

The best preacher I know

November 18, 2025 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

Recently a friend annoyed me with the comment, ‘this is the best preacher in my city”.

What does that mean to be the best preacher? My friend, who I greatly respect and like, comes from and exists in a certain segment of church life. Not surprisingly the preacher he referenced was from that same segment. I am not going to say what type of segment! That is not the point. But I do want to challenge anyone who thinks good preaching only comes from certain styles.

But here is what I think about preaching. It is not as important as what some think, neither is it as unimportant as some think. Furthermore there is no type of preaching that is better than other types. I realise that is where some will disagree, and perhaps my good friend.

I do think there are certain principles in preaching that matter.

It should be transformative. There is no gain if preaching is merely information transfer which does not lead to transformation. Transformation means something changes. It could be an attitude, a belief, a behaviour. It might free someone, it might challenge them, it might encourage or exhort them. But at its heart good preaching changes things. It transforms us.

The Word and the Spirit both need to be present. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to bring about change in someone’s life. Both need to be present. A preacher should have the Word at the heart of the message. What does the Bible say, present, inform, exhort, encourage us towards. The Spirit takes this word and pierces the heart, transforms and renews the mind, rebukes a lie, changes a behaviour, brings about a resolve to be more like Jesus, to say YES to Jesus.

Should it be expositional, topical, current, narrative, liturgical….

That is up to you, your personality and your context. These are not the point. The point is transformation.

So often when I hear someone say, this person is a good preacher, it is because they align with what the person themself likes. What aligns with their culture, with what they resonate with. It has nothing to do with what is good preaching at all, it is about preference. Which by the way is okay, just own that. And don’t say someone is not a good preacher because you don’t like their style.

In their context, to the people they are speaking to, are they bringing about transformation and fruit? Are lives being changed? That is what makes them a good preacher.

Someone said to me once, maybe more than once, I get nothing out of your preaching. Ouch. In one case it was because they didn’t like me. Fair enough. I don’t even like me sometimes! Other times it is because how I preach doesn’t resonate with them. Fair enough as well. There are hopefully preachers that will resonate with them.

I see deeply exegetical, thorough and ordered preachers who are incredibly effective. I also see some exegetical preachers who would bore the socks off a turtle.

I see deeply passionate spirit filled pentecostal topical preachers bring something out of the text in a way I never could, and people are saved and transformed by the power of the Spirit. Amen! I also hear some passionate preachers who would make good laundry detergent salespeople.

It is not about which style or personality is better, it is about what God wants to do, in this moment, to these people.

Bible, Church, Personal Reflection, Spiritual Thoughts

The Radical Middle

October 28, 2025 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

Recently my good friend Stephen McAlpine wrote a very good post on the surprise it may be to some churches when people they don’t expect turn up. Here

His basic premise is that there is a growing phenomenon where young adults, including a high percentage of young men, are coming to church. They are socially conservative and seeking Jesus. Stephens shrewd comment is that as many churches posture themselves to be inclusive, particularly around matters of sexuality, they may miss this moment. Because these young men are actually seeking a return to more orthodox values. This is something I have seen first hand and talk about with other Pastors in similar situations. Stephens point is valid.

My musings revolve around what we do with these folk when they come. Because none of us are fully formed or perfect Christians. Socially conservative young men of the type Stephen is talking about are no exception. Gods work begins and continues in us until we get to meet Him and then become like Him.

Conservative young men may need to realise that our nation won’t save us, nor will a system of government and certainly not a leader lacking in grace, morality, generosity and forgiveness. They may need to hear the words of Jesus, our kingdom is not of this world. Perhaps some teaching on the refugee status of Jesus might help. On his rebellion against the systems of His day. HIs advocating for women, for children, for the oppressed, even for the poor. He welcomed the refugee, the sinner, the outcast. He forgave and was mostly angry at the greedy, self seeking and self righteous.

The Radical Middle

The most radical place to be is in the middle. I believe Jesus calls us to be holy, but I also believe He calls everyone. And no one deserves to be called. He loves us, but He loves us too much to leave us where we are. I love you, I accept you. But I don’t even accept my own sin, and I can’t say your sin is okay either.

Jesus did pay his taxes, he grabbed a coin from the fishes mouth and recognised the face on it. He called us to holiness as well. Go and sin nor more…ringing in someones ears. He wouldn’t pick up the stone, even though He could have, and the law said she deserved it. He didn’t even throw a stone at the man, who by the way was no where to be seen.

I want to welcome everyone and call them to a better and higher way of living, no matter where they come from or who they have been sleeping with. Recently an older guy came and asked me, would I be accepted at your church after a failed marriage. It is a question people ask themselves when a marriage fails. Because there is shame and guilt. Guilt we can seek forgiveness for, shame is harder. Shame comes from a dark place, not a godly place. It is when someone does not realise that we are all made in the image of God. Shame comes when we don’t realise we are God’s creation, created for good works.

Yes, we may be messed up and messy, sinful and living in sin. But that is no barrier to the good news. But the good news is the beginning, not the end.

The Radical Middle is when the church loves you and welcomes you to a place of amazing grace, but also wants the Holy Spirit to start work on whatever it is that is needed.

Bible, Personal Reflection, Spiritual Thoughts

What if I stumble….what if I fall….

June 11, 2025 Mark Edwards 1 Comment

News has broke that DC Talk and Newsboys front person has confessed to a whole heap of bad stuff.

Just makes me sad…that is all. Loved DC Talk. Fantastic music, lyrics and heart to their music.

Newsboys….especially prior to Michael, was formative in my early christian years. An old girlfriend had a tape from this Aussie band…’Hell is for wimps’. Played it and played it. Thats before they got huge. Conquered America and the CCM market.

Strangely enough my favourite song was ‘Breakfast Club’. For the irreverent take on serious issues…with a killer bass line. The Newsboys took their faith and music seriously, but not themselves too seriously.

Of course now in America they have been a huge band, selling out stadiums.

What do we do with the early DC Talk music? Do we try and erase it from our memories? It is a bit sad for me when I put it on, or think about it.

It is not about how you start, or how you are doing, but how you finish.

God is good Michael, and Psalm 51 is a great place to start. And it is good he is not hiding.

But…for a fan like me…it is sad.

Personal Reflection, Spiritual Thoughts

Following Jesus

December 12, 2024 Mark Edwards 17 Comments

Is there anyway to measure when someone fully accepts the Lordship of Jesus into their lives?

When we baptise someone at Kew Baptist Church we use these words.

Do you believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

In obedience to the call of the risen Lord Jesus Christ do you repent of your sins and come to be baptised?

With the help of the Holy Spirit do you offer your life in service to God wherever He may call you to go?

Having heard of your repentance and your faith, I now baptise you in the name of God the father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

These are actually fairly weighty words. The claim of our Creator on our lives is clear. Do we believe in Him? Will we seek to say yes to Jesus? Will we go, sacrifice and obey the call on our lives. I am reminded of the weighty words of Jesus on what we are to give up to follow Him. These are not small sacrifices.

Personally I have not have to leave the comfort and safety of Australia. In fact I have followed the prompting of the Spirit to one of the most liveable countries in the world. Yet it was not the place I grew up with. I left behind 29 years of ministry friends. Contacts in every part of my state. I was known and I knew. I had friendships that had been forged over decades. You can’t replace that. Nor can you build new ones in a short time, not if they took decades to make.

Sometimes people misunderstand such a move. Truth be told they think about the effect such a move has on them. They lose something. A close friend they could duck out and say hello to. Friendships and family moments that can’t happen naturally and easily again. Of course you still contact each other. Social Media is helpful. And special plane trips and visits are good. A reminder of the deepness of the connection. But it is not the same. People you saw every week, and could hug when you needed to are gone. They sacrifice, but it was not their choice. It is tough when decisions you make affect other people negatively. That is not easy to navigate.

When Melinda and I moved to Melbourne it was a joint decision, borne out of a real whisper from God. And so it has proved right. Wisdom is proved right from its results. That does not mean it does not come with sacrifice, for us and for others. But we don’t serve a God who says come to a life of comfort and no sacrifice. We serve Jesus who calls us to say Yes to Him at every point of our lives. That saying yes to Jesus means we often have to say no to ourselves, and even to others. I don’t write those words glibly. I understand the weight of them. But Jesus is Lord. And He is my Lord. I don’t always get it right, but the whisper is there, guiding and speaking.