Life Matters

Kiwis are among the most optimistic people in the world.

... without wearing ourselves out on more activities.

How do you know if you're an online over-sharer?

Your MP will only know your opinion if you tell them.

Nicky and Sila Lee explain that we need to chill out and have more fun. And that starts at home.

Some ideas to get the most from small group prayer.

Important facts about the Bible.

Helpful advice from Netsafe about online copyright.

Are we exculsively outsourcing our children's faith to churches? asks Alastair Kendrew.

The biggest reality check for new parents is realising it’s not about ‘me’ anymore.

Do we cheer on the ordinary people that are around us every day?

Little reflections guaranteed to brighten your mood.

A special appeal to help support work in developing countries.

Do's and don'ts following a bereavement.

Andrew Knowles lists truths about prayer that remind us why prayer is vital in the Christian life:

Observations about living with disability...

There has been greater awareness of disabled people’s issues of late. Disabled people are more visible in the community.

Tanith Carey on helping daughters dress age appropriately.

We all experience anxiety but how can you handle it?

ANZAC Day traditions; do you know where they come from?

Some strange Easter traditions

Probably the best advice for email etiquette is ‘type unto others as you would have them type unto you’.

Just like playing the piano or taking up a sport, remembering names takes practise—until eventually we can make it look easy! Here are some practical exercises that really help:

To ‘brainstorm’ means using the brain to storm a creative problem. A great brainstorming resource is A Whack on the Side of the Head, by Roger van Oech.

Sigh. It’s that time of the year again when ‘love, true love’ is promoted on every heart-adorned shop window.

Facing a new school year is a major life change and it can be stressful. So how can you help your child through this?

Re-gifting is passing on your unwanted items as if they were new. How can you do this with integrity?

Live by the time-tested motto: ‘eight hours work, eight hours recreation, and eight hours rest’.

Being more eco-friendly doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, you can start by going back to how your grandparents did it.

For anyone wanting to make changes this year, Dr Alana Wilson has a message: ‘You can do it. It’s always possible to change.’

Simplify the tradition of gift-giving and recapture the joy of Christmas along the way.

A study by the Families Commission reports that taking time to share a family meal has far-reaching health and wellbeing benefits for young people.

It’s important to be mindful that there are things bigger than ourselves, and give back with our resources and skills.

Jesus said, ‘You cannot serve both God and money’ (Matthew 6:24), so would he say the same thing about God and sport?

Readers feedback on life's questions.

Author of The New Zealand Household Budget Kit Sylvia is passionate about budgeting. She says a budget is what allows the adventure to happen.

Yoga has exploded in popularity. But should Christians partake?

The grief of those bereaved in natural disasters, road accidents, violent crimes or suicide is different.

Some personal and biblical insights on the ‘spiritual singleness’ of marriage to a non-Christian.

Everyone has at least one area of weakness. For some, that area of weakness is pornography.

Alison Shaw, coordinator of the New Lynn branch of Senior Services, with hints for helping the elderly avoid social isolation.

The Easter story is not just for the weekend.

One school lesson, reinforced by timetables and bells, is the importance of balance: fitting a variety of tasks and experiences into a day.

Salvation Army soldiers (members) adopt a lifestyle free from alcohol and tobacco. They also abstain from addictive drugs.

Step out into new dimensions of faith and see what God will do.

One of the great benefits of aging is having time to reflect.

To reduce our nation's environmental footprint requires a decided attitude shift for many of us.

Post-natal depression was waiting on the other side of childbirth.

Are we just passive observers at the flicks?

To not use force need not be unmanly - it may be the most heroic and brave thing you can do.