au

Susan Barnes

Press Services International

Susan Barnes has been involved in pastoral ministry for over twenty years with her husband, Ross. They are now semi-retired and enjoy supporting a number of churches in north-east Victoria. You can find more of Susan’s articles at: https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/susan-barnes.html

  • How can we feel safe?

    Over January, the news and my Facebook feed have been full of stories related to the bushfires, but these stories have now slowed to a dribble as people’s interest has moved on to other things.

  • On doing it “My Way”

    I cringe when I hear that another family has requested Frank Sinatra’s, “My Way,” for their loved one's funeral service.

  • Rethinking Christmas

    Domestic violence incidents spike at Christmas. In fact, all kinds of violence escalate at this time of the year. Brawls from heavy drinking, drug-taking and the tensions in families, keep police, ambulance and hospitals excessively busy.

  • What brings joy?

    Over the last ten years, I have watched my parents age. They stopped playing golf and darts. They stopped looking after their garden and going on holidays.

  • Hope when everything changes yet nothing changes

    In the last few months, I have read two books discussing the social history of Australia over the last 50 years or so. Two things surprised me, how much has changed, and how little has changed.

  • Holiday Reflections on Legacies

    Earlier this year, it was our 40th wedding anniversary and we decided to celebrate by going on a river cruise, from Budapest to Amsterdam.

  • Why Noah?

    It surprises me that people on the fringe of faith, or totally opposed to faith,often ask me about Noah. Of all the stories in the Bible, why Noah?

  • Is there intelligent life on other planets?

    I was asked, by someone investigating Christian faith, whether it was possible that God had created life in other parts of the universe. When I’m asked these types of questions there are two things I consider: What is the Biblical evidence? Does the Bible mention this topic in any way?

  • God doesn’t micromanage

    Recently I was talking to a friend who attended a funeral of a Christian young person. They wondered if this person had achieved all that God intended for their life. And then wondered the same thing about their own life. It assumes that God’s plan for our lives is to complete a series of God-ordained tasks.