{"id":7233,"date":"2026-09-11T09:35:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T23:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/?page_id=7233"},"modified":"2026-10-16T10:40:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T00:40:40","slug":"food-for-thought","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/food-for-thought\/","title":{"rendered":"GCI Gold Coast Food for Thought"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"7233\" class=\"elementor elementor-7233\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-93b0207 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"93b0207\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dca710b\" data-id=\"dca710b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7c5fa0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b7c5fa0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/goldcoast_blog-1024x683.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7256\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/goldcoast_blog-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/goldcoast_blog-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/goldcoast_blog-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/goldcoast_blog-1000x667.webp 1000w, https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/goldcoast_blog-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/goldcoast_blog-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/goldcoast_blog.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cfa01dc elementor-posts--show-thumbnail elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"cfa01dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;full_content_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.full_content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-full_content elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-7267 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-food_for_thought category-gold-coast\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/september-13th-2026\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tSeptember 13th, 2026\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\t16 September 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__content\"><style><\/style>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"7267\" class=\"elementor elementor-7267\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c65f85b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2c65f85b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4ddacb3\" data-id=\"4ddacb3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c6c6c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"4c6c6c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<style>\r\n.food-for-thought {\r\n    max-width: 1200px;\r\n    margin: 50px auto;\r\n    padding: 20px;\r\n    font-family: \"Segoe UI\", Arial, sans-serif;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.food-header {\r\n    background: linear-gradient(135deg,#0b2341,#1f4a7a);\r\n    color:white;\r\n    text-align:center;\r\n    padding:60px 40px;\r\n    border-radius:15px;\r\n    margin-bottom:40px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.food-header h1{\r\n    margin:0;\r\n    font-size:3rem;\r\n    color:#d4af37;\r\n    letter-spacing:2px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.food-header p{\r\n    font-size:1.1rem;\r\n    margin-top:15px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.quote-card{\r\n    padding:35px;\r\n    border-radius:12px;\r\n    margin-bottom:25px;\r\n    box-shadow:0 5px 15px rgba(0,0,0,.08);\r\n}\r\n\r\n.quote-card h2{\r\n    margin-top:0;\r\n    color:#0b2341;\r\n    font-size:2rem;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.scripture{\r\n    display:inline-block;\r\n    margin-bottom:20px;\r\n    padding:6px 12px;\r\n    border-radius:20px;\r\n    background:white;\r\n    font-size:14px;\r\n    font-weight:600;\r\n    color:#666;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.quote-card p{\r\n    line-height:1.9;\r\n    color:#333;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.gold{\r\n    background:#fffaf0;\r\n    border-left:6px solid #d4af37;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.blue{\r\n    background:#f1f6fc;\r\n    border-left:6px solid #0b2341;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.green{\r\n    background:#f4faf4;\r\n    border-left:6px solid #567d46;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.grey{\r\n    background:#f7f7f7;\r\n    border-left:6px solid #888;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.quote-mark{\r\n    font-size:50px;\r\n    line-height:1;\r\n    color:#d4af37;\r\n    margin-bottom:10px;\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"food-for-thought\">\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"food-header\">\r\n        <h1>Food for Thought<\/h1>\r\n        <p>Wisdom and reflection from Christian thinkers, pastors and theologians<\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Jerry Bridges -->\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"quote-card gold\">\r\n        <div class=\"quote-mark\">\u275d<\/div>\r\n        <h2>Jerry Bridges<\/h2>\r\n        <div class=\"scripture\">1 Timothy 4:7<\/div>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            I have been in full-time ministry for well over twenty-five years and have served both overseas and in the United States. During this time I have met many talented and capable Christians, but I think I have met fewer godly Christians.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            The emphasis of our age is on serving God, accomplishing things for God. Enoch was a preacher of righteousness in a day of gross ungodliness, but God saw fit that the brief account of his life emphasised that he walked with God.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            What are we training ourselves for? Are we training ourselves only in Christian activity, as good as that may be, or are we training ourselves first of all in godliness?\r\n        <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Billy Graham -->\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"quote-card blue\">\r\n        <div class=\"quote-mark\">\u275d<\/div>\r\n        <h2>Billy Graham<\/h2>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            To me, there has always been a wondrous mystery to the preaching of the gospel. We are commanded to be faithful in proclaiming the Word and yet, at the same time, every success, every advance, no matter how slight, is possible only because God has been at work by the Holy Spirit.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            The Spirit gives us the message, leads us to those He has prepared and brings conviction of sin and new life. When we understand this truth, it frees us from the temptation to manipulation or pressure. It also should free us from pride and boasting because we know that God alone must receive the credit for whatever is accomplished.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            When we understand that truth, we also realise the urgency of prayer in evangelism. My own ministry, I am convinced, has only been possible because of the countless men and women who have prayed.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            The words from Zechariah should be written indelibly on our hearts and minds:\r\n            <strong>\u201cNot by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,\u201d says the Lord Almighty.<\/strong>\r\n            (Zechariah 4:6 NIV)\r\n        <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Walter Brueggemann -->\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"quote-card grey\">\r\n        <div class=\"quote-mark\">\u275d<\/div>\r\n        <h2>Walter Brueggemann<\/h2>\r\n        <div class=\"scripture\">Matthew 3:9<\/div>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            The news of the gospel and the reality of new life depend upon the will of God. The statement of John and the entire Abrahamic narrative speak a judgement against those who cling to their anti-promise ways of identity.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Richard Foster -->\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"quote-card green\">\r\n        <div class=\"quote-mark\">\u275d<\/div>\r\n        <h2>Richard Foster<\/h2>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            A misconception about prayer is the common teaching, \u201cPray once! Any more than that shows a lack of faith.\u201d\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            No. I understand the good intentions of people who teach this way but, very frankly, it flies in the face of a great deal of biblical experience and teaching, especially Jesus\u2019 parables of persistence.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            We are to keep at this work because we are the channel through which God\u2019s life and light flows into individuals and situations.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            May I call you to the adventure of prayer. Nothing draws us closer to the heart of God.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer -->\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"quote-card grey\">\r\n        <div class=\"quote-mark\">\u275d<\/div>\r\n        <h2>Dietrich Bonhoeffer<\/h2>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            Real silence, real stillness, really holding one's tongue comes only as the sober consequence of spiritual stillness.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Timothy Keller -->\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"quote-card blue\">\r\n        <div class=\"quote-mark\">\u275d<\/div>\r\n        <h2>Timothy Keller<\/h2>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            Even Nietzsche could not escape his own scalpel. He criticised secular liberals for being inconsistent while simultaneously making his own moral judgments.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            He praised courage, nobility and self-fashioning despite claiming there was no objective moral foundation behind those values.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            Why is the noble spirit noble? Why is courage good? Where do such moral values come from? By his own philosophy he cannot ultimately justify those claims.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            In short, he cannot stop doing what he tells everyone else to stop doing.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Alain de Botton -->\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"quote-card gold\">\r\n        <div class=\"quote-mark\">\u275d<\/div>\r\n        <h2>Alain de Botton<\/h2>\r\n\r\n        <p>\r\n            Loving relationships are fundamental to happiness. Our quest for the external goods of status and money is really another quest for love.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-7237 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-food_for_thought category-gold-coast\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/september-6th-2026\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tSeptember 6th, 2026\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\t11 September 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-avatar\">\n\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!-- FOOD FOR THOUGHT -->\n\n<div style=\"max-width:900px;margin:0 auto;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:1.8;color:#333;\">\n\n    <!-- Header -->\n    <div style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0b2e59,#184b8c);padding:35px;border-radius:8px;text-align:center;margin-bottom:40px;\">\n        <h2 style=\"margin:0;color:#ffffff;font-size:32px;font-weight:700;\">\n            Food for Thought\n        <\/h2>\n        <div style=\"width:80px;height:3px;background:#c8a043;margin:15px auto;\"><\/div>\n        <p style=\"margin:0;color:#e6edf7;font-size:16px;\">\n            Reflections on faith, prayer, commitment and Christian living\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Quote Card -->\n    <div style=\"margin-bottom:35px;padding:28px;background:#f8fafc;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-left:5px solid #c8a043;border-radius:6px;\">\n        <h3 style=\"margin-top:0;color:#0b2e59;\">Jerry Bridges<\/h3>\n        <p>\n            No one makes it to the level of Olympic, or even national competition, without commitment to pay the price of rigorous daily training. Similarly, no one ever becomes godly without a commitment to pay the price of the daily spiritual training God has designed for our growth in godliness.\n        <\/p>\n        <p>\n            Commitment echoes throughout Scripture: <em>&#8220;Earnestly, I seek you&#8221;<\/em> (Psalm 63:1),\n            <em>&#8220;You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart&#8221;<\/em> (Jeremiah 29:13),\n            and Paul&#8217;s determination to press on toward Christ&#8217;s calling (Philippians 3:12). Genuine spiritual growth requires intentional pursuit and wholehearted dedication.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"margin-bottom:35px;padding:28px;background:#ffffff;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-left:5px solid #0b2e59;border-radius:6px;\">\n        <h3 style=\"margin-top:0;color:#0b2e59;\">John Calvin<\/h3>\n        <p>\n            Reflecting on Romans 12:1, Calvin observed that people will never worship God sincerely or obey him wholeheartedly until they understand how deeply they are indebted to God&#8217;s mercy.\n        <\/p>\n        <p>\n            God&#8217;s grace does not compel us through fear. Rather, it draws us through gratitude and love into willing obedience and joyful righteousness.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"margin-bottom:35px;padding:28px;background:#f8fafc;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-left:5px solid #c8a043;border-radius:6px;\">\n        <h3 style=\"margin-top:0;color:#0b2e59;\">Billy Graham<\/h3>\n        <p style=\"font-size:18px;font-style:italic;color:#555;margin:0;\">\n            &#8220;Often the unbelieving world rejects our message because it sees no difference between Christians and non-Christians.&#8221;\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"margin-bottom:35px;padding:28px;background:#ffffff;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-left:5px solid #0b2e59;border-radius:6px;\">\n        <h3 style=\"margin-top:0;color:#0b2e59;\">Walter Brueggemann<\/h3>\n        <p>\n            Calling upon God&#8217;s name encompasses the whole of life. It includes both joyful praise and earnest petition, both seasons of blessing and moments of distress.\n        <\/p>\n        <p>\n            Whether in worship or in need, believers continually turn toward God and find their hope in him alone.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"margin-bottom:35px;padding:28px;background:#f8fafc;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-left:5px solid #c8a043;border-radius:6px;\">\n        <h3 style=\"margin-top:0;color:#0b2e59;\">Richard Foster<\/h3>\n        <p>\n            Many question prayer because they assume everything has already been decided. Foster challenges this view by pointing to Paul&#8217;s description of believers as <em>&#8220;God&#8217;s fellow workers&#8221;<\/em> (1 Corinthians 3:9).\n        <\/p>\n        <p>\n            Prayer is not a passive exercise but active participation in God&#8217;s work. Through prayer, we join God in his ongoing mission and Kingdom purposes.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"margin-bottom:35px;padding:28px;background:#ffffff;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-left:5px solid #0b2e59;border-radius:6px;\">\n        <h3 style=\"margin-top:0;color:#0b2e59;\">Arterius<\/h3>\n        <p style=\"font-size:18px;font-style:italic;color:#555;margin:0;\">\n            &#8220;Fasting ensured that the stomach would not make the body boil like a kettle to the hindering of the soul.&#8221;\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"margin-bottom:35px;padding:28px;background:#f8fafc;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-left:5px solid #c8a043;border-radius:6px;\">\n        <h3 style=\"margin-top:0;color:#0b2e59;\">Timothy Keller<\/h3>\n        <p>\n            Keller argues that the concept of universal human rights rests upon the biblical conviction that every person is created in God&#8217;s image.\n        <\/p>\n        <p>\n            Human dignity is not earned through ability, status, or achievement. It is bestowed by God, making every life inherently valuable and worthy of respect.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"margin-bottom:35px;padding:28px;background:#ffffff;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-left:5px solid #0b2e59;border-radius:6px;\">\n        <h3 style=\"margin-top:0;color:#0b2e59;\">Adrian Plass<\/h3>\n        <p>\n            True security is found in truth. When we defend ourselves, our faith, or the church apart from the Spirit of truth, we place ourselves on uncertain ground.\n        <\/p>\n        <p>\n            Genuine confidence comes from faithfulness to God&#8217;s truth, even when that truth challenges our assumptions or comforts.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Reflection Section -->\n    <div style=\"background:#f4f7fb;padding:30px;border-radius:8px;border-top:4px solid #c8a043;margin-top:45px;\">\n        <h3 style=\"margin-top:0;color:#0b2e59;\">Personal Reflection<\/h3>\n        <p style=\"margin-bottom:0;\">\n            Which of these insights speaks most powerfully to you today? Consider taking a few moments to pray, reflect on Scripture, and ask God how he may be inviting you to grow in faith, commitment, prayer, truthfulness, or service.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"wf_page_folders":[10],"class_list":["post-7233","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7233"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7233\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7452,"href":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7233\/revisions\/7452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"wf_page_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/micro.gci-au.church\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_page_folders?post=7233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}