But Margaret Court, in her post tennis existence, is also known as the Senior Pastor of Victory Life Church in Perth. It is in this role that she continues to excel in life and has influence in our city.

One of the attributes I deeply admire about Margaret Court is that she fearlessly speaks up for the truth. In a day when too few will take a stand for truth, and the risk of becoming unpopular or offending others, in this regard she stands out as an example to the church in this city.

However, there can be a price to pay for speaking the truth. This week, coinciding with the commencement of the Australian Open (a Grand Slam she won 11 times in her career), calls have been made by gay activists to remove Mrs Court's name from the court named in her honour. The reason? Her publicly stated opposition to gay marriage.

Margaret Court Arena was so named because of Mrs Court's outstanding achievements on the tennis court. She is honoured for her tennis record by the tennis community in Australia. How is it that her personally held views, no matter how opposed to them some sections of the community may be, could override and disqualify her sporting achievements and record?

But now in Australia some only want freedom of speech so long as it doesn't hurt the feelings of others:

Kerryn Phelps, one of Australia's best-known gay women, said the former champion tennis player had gone beyond expressing a view about gay marriage and homosexuality to vilification of people living in same-sex relationships. "You have got a public landmark, in an iconic Australian sport like tennis, which is named after a person who is expressing views which are extremely hurtful to a lot of people," Professor Phelps told The Australian. "There should be careful consideration given to changing the name."

Unfortunately, this is true of much of how the same sex marriage "debate" has gone in Australia. Gay marriage activists call for tolerance to be shown and yet if you offer a dissenting view don't for a minute expect tolerance in return. In fact, don't even expect a debate. What you can expect is an attack on your character, your achievements, your reputation, and your substance as a person.

Margaret Court's response to those attacks:

"We live in a free society and I stand up for families between a husband and a wife. I won't ever back down on that."

She isn't backing down. And the reason she isn't backing down is that she knows the truth and the power of the truth to set people free. I pray she keeps on proclaiming the truth with boldness and courage, because we all need to hear it.

The gay marriage debate (and others like it) show we have a truth deficient in our society. The danger of that, in the words of George Orwell is:

“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.”

Margaret Court, long a champion on the court, continues to be a champion for truth off it.

To me, this suddenly infamous event, provides a glimpse into the type of nation Australia is. Want to know what Aussie's are like? Here it is, in one short mobile phone video recording.

First of all we have the cricket test at the SCG. To understand Australians you first need to understand cricket, or more accurately, you need to understand the place that cricket has in Australia.

Cricket is synonymous with summer in this nation. The sounds of the game and commentary follow you through out the long hot days. The Christmas and New Year period are punctuated for the cricket fan by the two biggest tests of the calendar, the Boxing Day test in Melbourne and the New Year's test in Sydney. It was at the latter, Mr Hawke was filmed.

Secondly, we have the main character of this film being former Prime Minister Mr Bob Hawke. There are a couple of items to highlight here. One, the fact that a former PM is quite happy to mix with the ordinary people of the cricket "outer". I wonder how many US Presidents or British PM's will wander the grandstands of their national sports and casually (not for the camera's mind you) fraternise with the average person?

It strikes me as a part of the Australian way of life, that a former national leader could do this without anything being thought of it. It demonstrates the flat, non-hierarchical social structure of Australian culture, where differences of rank, responsibility, or any other distinguishing socio-economic mark are invisible.

Mr Hawke was the legendary recipient of a Guinness Book World Record, when in 1955 he set the fastest time for skolling a yard glass of beer. Mr Hawke was also once the most popular PM Australia has had, and judging my the video that sentiment has been rekindled. And I can't help but think the former contributed to latter becoming a reality.

The third point about Australia this video makes is the role that beer plays in it. Australia has a long standing and at times torrid relationship with beer. The fact that a long standing PM would hold a world drinking record is not something of a black mark in this nation, but a point of celebration. Such is the Australian emotional (and at times physical) attachment to the golden ale.

It is not without its problems however. As far back as the mid 70's Bob Hawke himself, then the President of the ACTU (Australia's Union peak body), spoke of Australia's drinking problem when he said:

Alcoholism is fast becoming the all-Australian nightmare for, in addition to creating thousands of sick workers, it has created a sick economy where the doctors in charge don't have a clue as to the conditions or the cause!

In the 35 years since, I don't think much has change or certainly not improved. Right now, that is Australia, in a youtube clip; take it or leave it. For good or for bad, Australia is still deeply rooted in a world of cricket, egalitarian attitudes, drinking records, and when that is not working for us, no "clue" as to how to make any change for the better.

The year year brings new hope and new excitement. And rightly so.

The bible tells us God controls the time and seasons (Daniel 2:21) and so when the calendar changes it can signal more than a change in the date. So in 2012 we can expect something NEW.

What are you expecting for 2012?

To have expectation is to eagerly look to the Lord for Him to work and speak in ways that only He can.

Without expectation, we can easily miss God. But with expectation, we are Spiritually aware and awake to the things of the Spirit and are more likely to see, hear and agree with the movings and workings of God - in the earth, but also in our own situations.

There are a few themes I believe God is speaking to me about for 2012. I'd like to share them hear because as we hear the Word of the Lord our faith is strengthened, and it is by "faith and patience (i.e. expectancy) that we inherit the promises" of God (Hebrews 6:12).

1. The Divergence of Light and Darkness

Isaiah 60 speaks of the light of God rising and shining in the darkness. The day we are in is one where increasingly there will be less grey. The church needs to take its place as a voice and presence for what is light. There is now a need to consider carefully how we speak and how we act because in doing so we increasingly choose and align ourselves with the forces of darkness and light. This will be a time for Daniels, men and women of integrity and boldness, to stand and come into the Lord's promotion.

2. Boldness in Evangelism

But in this time of walking carefully to align ourselves with God in truth, there is a grace for the church to speak out and stand with new boldness and authority! The silencing, intimidatory work of the enemy has been broken, and the time is now to proclaim the truth of Jesus in power and strength. There will be bright and shining lamps lighting up in dark places, attracting those in search of truth, liberty and healing. Now is the time, to be bold and step out in faith. In doing so, great and mighty things will take place and the kingdom will expand with a great in-gathering (Isa 43:5-6).

3. Everything being ADDED

Luke 12:31 says "Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you". This is the year for this Word to be made known in your life. For many in 2011 and the years preceding it, there has been a stealing away by the enemy. This theft - be it financial, health, opportunity, blessing, relationships - is illegal and the Lord is acting to reverse this curse and lift off the weight of hardship upon you. But the condition for this promise, is that first of all, above all, we seek Him and His kingdom. The Lord is jealous for a people to call His own in the earth, and with it will be signs. One of those will be of increase, stolen things being added back with interest, a double portion in the land (Isaiah 61:7) will be yours.

I pray you eagerly seek the coming of the Lord's presence, power and promises in your life in 2012.

PS - Get More of God's Word to you in 2012

Sign up to receive 12 devotionals in your email inbox over 12 days. Go to my devotional site, edevotional.com to sign up and receive the first today.

But, if we didn't have Christmas, what would life be like? What would the world look like without Christmas?

Of course, no Christmas would mean no presents, no tree, no suburban Christmas lights to light up our streets. There would also be no carols to sing and no candlelight on community ovals to sing them by. There would be no joy and no high point in the last week of December, it would just be another week in the year.

There would also be no memories around the "modern" traditions of Christmas day; no crackers, no silly hats and no bad jokes, no turkey and ham, and (importantly) no leftovers to enjoy watching the cricket on Boxing Day.

They are the obvious losses we would suffer if Christmas was no more. And still there are some who would say that is no great loss. But is that really the extent of the impact of Christmas? I think there is more, much more.

As much as some would love us to overlook or forget it, the reason we have Christmas is because of Christ and His birth, and the life He lived for us.

If we look through history, the legacy Jesus left has been overwhelmingly good. Whilst not every person claiming the title of Christian has had a positive impact upon the world, there is an overwhelming weight of evidence to show that the effect Jesus Christ has had on the world and human history has been hugely positive.

Christians had a lasting impact on the Roman Empire. They went from being a heavily persecuted minority to having the Christian religion adopted as Rome's official religion just over a century later. Why did this happen? The effect of Jesus' followers on the empire. In 254 AD Christians saved the city of Corinth from the plague by caring for those who were dragged and dumped in the streets.

The barbaric nature of the empire was challenged by the selfless love of Christians. This saw not only the ending of Gladiatorial blood sports, but also the horrific practices of infanticide.

The Middle Ages saw Christians at the forefront of what we now know as our modern hospitals. Monasteries became places of refuge for the sick, infirm and outcast. Monasteries also had a high value on the written word and so painstakingly preserved ancient manuscripts.

The church also was used as an educational pioneer. Churches were places where people could learn Latin, and this developed into wide scale literacy and formal education. This seedbed of learning also gave way to the reformation and renaissance period.

The Reformation was a time of massive change through learning. A growing appreciation and progress in the areas of art, music, science, and knowledge was due in no small part to Christianity and the church. Scientific developments at this time invariably took place in the Christian West, not East. In fact most great scientists of the era were Christian (Newton, Pasteur, Pascal, Fleming and others).

Why was this? The Christian understanding of the world is a positive one, it cultivates an understanding of the created order, and teaches that man carries a God-given mandate of "dominion", which leads to initiative, progress, and development.

Higher education was also a domain of Christians, first throughout Europe and the new world where universities were first established as seminaries, reflecting their Christian purpose.

Christ and His followers have also had a monumental effect on society over the centuries. Jesus demonstrates a very radical approach in treatment of women from much of the ancient world, and this has been the primary driving force in the equality we know today.

William Wilberforce is well known for his work on the abolition of slavery. But less well known are the other social works many other believers have also brought to the world. From prison and labour reform, to the founding of many major philanthropic and charity works, such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, orphanages, Christian Missionary Society, YMCA and others. These many like them have laboured to take modern medicine and education global, and they have done so in the name of Christ.

There are many other shining lights of the work of Christians through out history. The church itself has continued to grow and spread the Gospel in virtually every nation on the earth, often in the face of heavy persecution. This conviction in their Christian beliefs has been for the benefit of us all, as we continue to enjoy the benefits of the work of Jesus Christ in many of the things we take for granted.

We can't ignore it, deny it or revise it. The world WAS irrevocably changed on the day Jesus came into the world! The world has been changed by Jesus, but Christmas is an opportunity to ask ourselves this question, HAVE I BEEN CHANGED BY JESUS?

Giving your life to Jesus is the best gift you could give to the giver of all gifts this Christmas.

2 Cor 9:15 "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

(image credit)

People are more precious to God than you or I could possibly conceive. His love for humanity extends well beyond any earthly notion we may hold, yet we can catch a glimpse of what it looks like in the rescue mission of Jesus, an act that cost Him His life in exchange for ours.

What I wish to say here, I wish to convey with compassion knowing that this is territory that is highly emotionally charged. And yet, I wish to be faithful to what I believe is right and true.

I believe the move to change legislation in order to allow same-sex marriage, through the redefinition of marriage, to be the wrong one.

The terms we hear in arguing for same-sex marriage are familiar ones, “equality”, “end discrimination”, “banish homophobia”. Unfortunately, they do little to encourage civil and sensible debate on what is an issue of huge national significance.

Of course, we stand for equality. Of course, discrimination has no place in our nation. Of course, we must distance ourselves from the "stench" of homophobia (not merely a phobia but anything remotely in opposition to the gay lobby / agenda / 'rights' movement). But in actuality, the debate on same-sex marriage is not about reforming for equality or ending discrimination, homophobic or otherwise.

In this nation, cohabiting same-sex couples hold the same rights as cohabiting heterosexual couples. Recent law reform has provided for this “equality of rights” over such areas of legislation affecting taxation, social security and health, aged care and employment. This follows the move to recognize same-sex cohabiting couples as ‘de facto’ relationships, in the same ways that heterosexual cohabiting couples are.

Curiously, this is seen in the high profile case of Wallabies flanker David Pocock, an advocate of same-sex marriage, who ironically refuses to legally marry his “wife” until, in his words, "marriage discrimination” is ended. What it does show, quite well, is that de facto relationships under law, protects and provides for cohabiting relationships (both same-sex and heterosexual) in an entirely adequate manner. One wonders if Pocock experiences the true marginalization and victimization he claims gay couples must endure under the current arrangements outside of “marriage”? I think that would be drawing a very long bow.

What we have seen and heard from the various interest groups pushing the same-sex marriage campaign is the need to end discrimination, when discrimination has already been ended in this domain. And so where there is no material discrimination (a fact glaringly lacking from the public debate), the only basis we are left with is a philosophical one, one that is seeks to redefine marriage is in opposition to traditional marriage and family. There is an agenda at play that is pushing for radical social re-engineering; a very different position from which to redefine marriage than to simply “make things fairer” for the 1.5% of the population for whom this issue is (at best) going to affect.

Like it or not, marriage is, and has been as long as this nation has been in existence, the bedrock of our civilization. That is not to say every marriage is perfect or that relationships of value outside it have never existed. What it is saying is that the covenanting together of husband and wife provides the best foundation from which to nurture children and so set the direction for the nations future. Children do matter in this mix and yet why is that the rights of children are uniformly absent from this debate?

One reason I would put forward is the notion and catch-cry that “all we need is love”. "If people love each other, what does it matter? Right?" As Federal Greens MP Adam Bandt says: "Love has no boundaries; love has no limits."

I would argue that is actually a breathtakingly self-centered view of love.

Love is, at its core, absolutely concerned with the other. Love is in fact driven by wanting the best for the other. That, in the case of children, means boundaries! “Don’t touch the stove, don’t run on the street”. These are limits of necessity and arise because of concern for the wanting the best for the child. It extends to every other type of loving relationship as well. Boundaries protect, nurture and promote what is valued over what is not.

But the view given by Bandt of love is one becoming increasingly adopted in our society. The problem with this though is that a self-centred view of love will, by necessity, begin, at some point, to impinge on the freedoms and liberties of others in that society.

Some scoff at the warnings given by advocates of traditional marriage in the face of the same-sex marriage debate. Of course, civilisation won’t immediately collapse should such Bills be passed in parliament, but where same sex marriage legislation has been passed in other jurisdictions, following thereafter has invariably been restrictions on other freedoms long enjoyed there, most notably the freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

The Judeo-Christian ethic found at the core of harmonious, democratic western nations is to “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. The words of Jesus promote a selflessness as the expression of love, not a selfishness.

This has fostered a civic environment where freedoms are valued because what is good for my neighbour is ultimately good for me too. We are now increasingly seeing western societies move away from this foundation (and others like it) because of an over-emphasis on individual sensitivities at the exclusion of the greater corporate good.

In the case of same-sex marriage, we find a situation where Christians who hold an orthodox biblical view of the marriage relationship now at odds with not just gay activitists pushing for solemnization rites for their relationship, but also with the state.

This must be of grave concern for anyone who values a free and democratic nation. Where the personalised, subjective rights of one impinge upon the rights of others, we can be sure criminal prosecution for “hate crimes” and like, will soon follow. When this occurs to those in our midst for simply for holding to one’s own religious convictions, we lose much of our cherished heritage as a nation.

The removal of limitations and boundaries, and in fact any restrictions in general, does not promote a more equitable society. Rather it promotes an environment where the most aggressive, the most self-important, and the loudest gets to create rules by which everyone else must live. This is not justice, it is not equality, it is in fact tyranny.

The upshot of same-sex marriage in Australia is that people with strong and sound convictions (religious or otherwise), will in time, face unfair penalties simply for holding those views. This is not alarmist talk. It is simply the natural progression (with historical precedent in places like Canada) of this social re-engineering that promotes and elevates the interests, feelings, wants of the very few but very loud over the established, non-confrontational rights of others. This certainly is a matter of justice, but not as it is portrayed.

For me September 11 was a defining event. I sat transfixed to my small 48cm CRT television and watched the seemingly unreal footage roll in and unfold before my eyes. The next day I stayed home from work sick and watched more and more of this horrible, unimaginable drama unfold.

The truth is, the enormity of the event didn’t hit until later. Even today I get a knot in my stomach when I see footage or hear audio of those attacks. The emotion is palpable. The mental transportation back to that place almost immediate.

The question I have been pondering is why? Why has this attack, unlike any other act of terrorism, so lodged itself in my psyche? Why am I so moved by its scenes, its sounds and its stories?

The cynic will say it is because of the media. No doubt the media brought our two geographically extreme sides of the world together, but I don’t believe that is the reason. Plenty of other events, conflicts, disasters have been televised both before and after without such an impact.

The reason, I believe, 9/11 holds such a deep-seated place in my life is spiritual. I believe everything is spiritual, but 9/11 has special spiritual significance because it to me is such a powerful, real life symbol of the war we are confronted with in this life.

Some have attempted to re-write 9/11 in recent years as simply a “clash of cultures”, that the USA got what they have 'been giving out for years'. 'It is not Islam at fault but the flaws and corruption of the West that brought this to bear'. Aside from historical inaccuracies of that position, I think it is also incredibly naïve and an insult to what we all observed happen 10 years ago.

By that I mean, the events of 9/11 were perpetrated by unmistakable and undeniable forces of evil against an unsuspecting, unprepared, unengaged opponent. On any level or by any measure of ethics or morality, it was a repugnant and despicable act not just on the individuals who were killed and who suffered, but on a larger scale, those who stand for the way of freedom.

Like it or not New York City has for generations stood as a symbol of liberty and freedom. From the immigrant arrival halls, to the bustling commerce of Wall st, to the Statue of Liberty herself. NYC has come to embody what the new world of America came to stand for. The United States for all its flaws is a great nation, established on a sound foundation. The 9/11 attacks were an attacks of these same ideals, both in the natural – economically, politically, culturally – and in the Spirit.

When I saw those attacks, I saw evil at work. And it lodged something in my Spirit. 'This is wrong and it can not be allow to prosper'. Justice must be bought, and swiftly. Many had this thought as well, and attention turned to operations in Afghanistan and the like. But for me the justice and fight against evil was only ever going to be waged and won in the Spirit.

It is now where I live – in a battle, in a war. Not against flesh and blood. But against principalities and powers. I have given my life to God, the creator of all life, sovereign authority over, and king over a kingdom that represents everything good. The same power at work, bringing havoc, suffering, chaos on 9/11 I now know as the face of my enemy. I belong to the Lord and my desire is that His Kingdom work to revoke and restrict the power at work behind 9/11 so that no other 9/11, natural or Spiritual, may take place in my lifetime.

There is never a guarantee of that. In fact, evil continues to prosper. But the memories of 9/11 simply serve to provide me with a real and vivid reminder of the enemy I face and the war I am engaged in. For Good against evil.

In this way, 9/11 is a metaphor for my calling and my life.

Lest we forget.

It's no fun leading the way. There is just a lot of hard work, sweat, tears and even some blood, but little reward. Or so it seems.

Psalm 126:5-6

Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

In each generation, God appoints some ministries to go ahead of the pack, to break away from the safety of the pelaton. It is often for a variety of reasons, but primarily those that run ahead carry a burden to seek to restore and reform the church to become more like the bride that Jesus Christ is soon returning for.

Unavoidably, if you are one of these forerunners you will know (or find) that you will be accompanied regularly by tears. Swimming against the tide is no easy endeavour.

There is graft, there is heart-break, there is pain, and there is tears of toil that goes with plowing a previously unplowed ground. Eschewing the seemingly easier fields and well worn pastures, the tears of forerunning are unavoidable.

But there is a pay-off. We also are given a promise that those tears are not wasted. Those tears sown will reap great joy. The joy of serving Him, the joy of being satisfied in Him, the joy of finding out He is more than enough. And yes the joy of the harvest.

In the kingdom of God, great pain magnifies the joy of great reward.