Cultivating kids who love to read
Jun12

Cultivating kids who love to read

Rise editor Wendy Rush talks to Jasmine Berry, creator of a unique initiative that helps parents read to their children. “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go” said Dr Seuss in I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! Dr Seuss knew that learning to read is the first step in expanding our world and realising our life’s potential.   At the very least it is crucial for us to...

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Inspiring Good Dads to be Great
May29

Inspiring Good Dads to be Great

Author Mal White explains how and why he came to write ‘Good Dads GREAT DADS’. It has been said that only 10% of Australian men have a close relationship with their fathers. Most men would like to think they will enjoy a life-long relationship with their children but the statistics tell a different story. Children are the worst affected when their dads are not actively involved in their children ‘s lives. Many people carry...

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Give thanks… in everything?
May16

Give thanks… in everything?

By Annette Spurr. Give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 8:13). Everything? Even the bad things? That seems completely unrealistic and unfair. That’s what I thought, anyway… Until a near tragedy changed everything. It started out like most nights at our place… frantically getting dinner ready while my boys played noisily around my feet. Phil had just stepped outside to light the barbeque when we heard an almighty ‘thud!’ I...

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A Strategy to Boost Thankfulness
May12

A Strategy to Boost Thankfulness

By Michelle Mitchell, author, speaker, educator and ambassador for Australia’s National Day of Thanks.  It is not difficult to notice times when authentic gratitude is lacking in our homes. I have come to recognise that an indulgent life doesn’t make kids happy. The ‘Give Up’ strategy is a quick gratitude booster that any family can use when gratitude is lacking. It requires us to take something away from our children’s lives, until...

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How does a place of slaughter become a sacred place?
Apr29

How does a place of slaughter become a sacred place?

Article by Wendy Rush. On 29 April 2015 two young Australians walked the final few steps from their jail cells to stand before their executioners.  Singing praises to God, their hearts and minds were focused on the cross of Christ. Nine years earlier, in February 2006, these young men were convicted of drug smuggling in Indonesia and sentenced to death by firing squad. While there were those who felt they deserved their fate, it was...

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