Author: Dave

PASSIONAustralia.blog is my personal ministry website. I am also web servant for several church websites.

Past or future?

January 5, 2024

Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?

I once heard it said that the rear view mirror is tiny compared to the windscreen of your car. This is because we need to look where we are going, more than where we have been.

That resonated with me when I heard it. It just made sense because I cannot change the past. Because of this I tend to review things I have done and then move on. I like to quickly think over what I did during the day, learn from it and then file it away.

I guess as a Christ follower this sits well with my faith too. The Apostle Paul talked about the past in his “pressing on” passage in Philippians 3:12-14 NLT…

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. [13] No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Paul was more interested in knowing Christ, growing in his faith and fulfilling God’s purposes in his life. If that was the Apostle Paul’s focus, it is good enough for me too. I want to know Christ, grow and fulfil my purpose too.

Does this mean I do not look back at all? Definitely not. We all need to reflect on the things we have done. Maybe we can learn something, grow, and maybe do things differently next time.

Ultimately for me though, it goes back to the size of the rear view mirror compared to size of our car windscreens. Looking forward is way more important.

Some great words for 2024

January 2, 2024

Here are some good words from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 NLT. They are great advice for 2024…or for any year!


[16] Always be joyful.

[17] Never stop praying.

[18] Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

[19] Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

[20] Do not scoff at prophecies, [21] but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

[22] Stay away from every kind of evil.

This would be a good passage of Scripture to focus on this year. It encourages us to pray, be joyful and thankful. It also warns us to be open to the Holy Spirit and prophetic words and to flee from all kinds of evil.

It is amazing how much is packed in to God’s Word in a few short sentences. Words of life.

Feeling nostalgic?

December 31, 2023

What makes you feel nostalgic?

This is an interesting question. What makes you feel nostalgic? To be honest I had to look up the word again to make sure I was on the right track. You will be pleased to know I was!

Nostalgia is a “feeling of pleasure and also slight sadness when you think about things that happened in the past”. This is a feeling I have every now and then. Especially when I see things from the past.

1. Old photos are things that can make me feel nostalgic. Especially old family photos and ones of when my kids were young. That takes me back. Photos of old cars I have owned or old houses I have lived often take me back too.

2. Old songs are another thing that can take me back. We have a local radio station that plays hits from the 80s and 90s. Often I know all the lyrics and I sing along. I get mentally transported back to my old house, my old job or people I used to know at the time. I heard Pat Benatar’s song All Fired Up the other day and it took me back to sprint training sessions on my bike!

3. Old furniture is something that takes me back to old times. I saw an old dressing table that my Nanna had in someone’s home recently. It took me back to the 70s. We have an old kitchen table and chair set from my grand parents when they were married. Some days I close my eyes and I can see it in their dining room.

There are other things I guess that take me back in an instant, but these are the main ones. It is funny how things can take you back in an instant to times past. It does not take much and we are back there mentally.

Sometimes my nostalgia can make me feel sad as the true definition of the word suggests. It makes me long for times gone by. Mostly though, I am happy to be reminded of the good times and the people I have known and loved in the past.