Shaking hands and kissing babies sure makes a lot of friends. Take US President Barack Obama for example. More than 24.2 million people "like" him, according to his Facebook page. But he isn't close to being the world's most popular person. He trails cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, who has 29.5 million fans, and even Lady Gaga's 45.7 million followers.

     However, even they still have ground to make on the most "liked" person. Who might that be? Amazingly, it's entertainer Eminem, adored by a whopping 49.8 million people.

     Facebook has revolutionised how we connect with friends and reconnect with forgotten ones. It allows us to share our daily lives, our photos, our music and our humour.

     But are those relationships genuine?

     To see Outreach Media's January poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

In 1931, a graphic artist called Haddon Sundblom came up with the modern image of Santa. You know, the big man in red? Sundblom was working for Coca Cola who were looking for new ways to sell their drink. What a success story!

     Now, all over the world, children are told that if they're good enough, a strange fat man in a red suit from a North Pole factory with magic elves and supersonic reindeer will come to their house and... break and enter.

      But isn't Jesus the reason for Christmas? So why are people swapping Jesus, who is real, for Santa, who isn't? The real magic of Christmas is that Jesus came amongst us to save us. And Christianity stands or falls on the historical facts of this wonder.

     To see Outreach Media's December poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

"You really are self-righteous!" How's that for a top rate insult? It means you think you're morally superior, that you're better than others. Only proud and arrogant people think that way. So who gets called self-righteous? Well, often religious people. Some of them really seem to think they're pretty good, more righteous than others. Which is ironic if it's true because Jesus hated self-righteousness. That's right, he really hated it.

     In first century Israel there was a clear class distinction between the clean and unclean, the acceptable and the outcast, the righteous and the unrighteous. Then along came Jesus, a prophet of God, healer, preacher and by all accounts a holy man who worked miracles. Except He didn't behave as He was expected to. He healed people on the Sabbath (the Jewish day of rest), talked to prostitutes, touched the unclean and ate with the ones you'd least expect: 'sinners.' Worst of all, Jesus offered forgiveness to these 'sinners' while constantly rebuking and accusing the religious leaders of hypocrisy, self-importance and self-righteousness.

     To see Outreach Media's November poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

There you are, quietly making your breakfast when suddenly the toast pops with an image of Jesus burnt crisply in the side. Wow! Miracle! And it really looks like Jesus. You know, the stained glass window Jesus. Perhaps God wants to chat? Or maybe someone tampered with the bread.

     The internet has loads of Jesus toast stories as well as plenty of do-it yourself tips on how to create them. Nearly all of them involve tampered toast and people making fun of other people who claim they've seen Jesus in some everyday thing or place and so now it's time to believe. It could be a potato chip or a cloud in the sky or the cream on your coffee or just a tree stump. It could be anything. But God is talking! To you!!

     People have been reporting these kinds of 'miracles' since Jesus's earthly ministry 2000 years ago. So what are we to do?

     To see Outreach Media's October poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

The myth of the lazy Australian was debunked long ago. One study found that we work harder than anyone in the western world.

     The fact is we're all working long hours. But what for? Food, clothing and shelter? Most Australians already have the basics. So why do we work so hard? What are we striving for?

     Perhaps, in a moment of quiet reflection, we hope for a better existence in the future. Where we finally achieve our goals. When at last we have that job or get married or pay off the house, or build the extension, or go on that trip...and so we finally arrive at that wonderful and better state of life.

     In the meantime we work hard. And hard work is good. It's satisfying to achieve something you've worked for. But working is not what life is ultimately about. It's an illusion to think that we'll find our purpose in work.

     To see Outreach Media's September poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

We're not meant to be alone. A 2001 study done by the American Psychosomatic Society found that isolated people die sooner. If you're alone it's hard to get medical help. But that wasn't the significant reason. Put simply, the body of a socially isolated person doesn't function as well as other people. Why? Well, science has only some answers to offer.

     For example, touch is important. When you're touched warmly, the body releases Oxytocin, a hormone that builds trust and reduces levels of the stress hormone Cortisol. While this is fascinating it's only a small part of the story. Psychology has shown that that we're social creatures. We need affirmation, encouragement... we long to work in teams.

     To see Outreach Media's August poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

Ba Boom. Ba Boom. Ba Boom. My heart is beating loudly inside my chest. Meanwhile, the rest of my body is completely frozen.

     I stare forward in terror, not daring to blink. Opposite me, the lion also stares. Its eyes glint in the African sun, holding my gaze. It's so close that I can see every row of sharp, pointy teeth. Its muscles tense. Surely it's about to strike.

     Then it turns away, disappearing as fast as it arrived. I live to breathe another day.

     Some things are just completely terrifying. Our senses overload with panic and confusion while our hearts race out of control. The mighty lion does this.

     To see Outreach Media's July poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

In America, former Arkansas Governor and Christian pastor, Mike Huckabee offered this blunt message after he heard of the death of Osama bin Laden: "Welcome to hell." Is this a right response? Should we be delighted that Osama has fallen into the hands of God? No. The Bible says it’s a ‘dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God’ (Hebrews 10: 31) and that God takes ‘no pleasure in the death of a sinner’ (Ezekiel 33: 11).

     However, when a mass murderer like Osama bin Laden is killed, it’s right to feel relief. He’s been stopped from killing any further and we can all feel a little safer. It’s also right to thank God that he doesn’t let tyrants and murderers continue without check. Death is God’s chief method of thwarting every Hitler, Stalin or Genghis Khan.

     To see Outreach Media's June poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

Pregnancy and childbirth has been one of the most astounding experiences of my life. However, as I followed the weekly updates of what was happening within my womb I became strangely aware that I wasn't really in control. I didn't know how to put a lung or a kidney together, or when to start making the fingernails. Though my body was doing the work there was someone else masterminding the whole process - God.

     In Psalm 139, King David says to God "You knit me together in my mother's womb." Knitting is not a task that can be done at a distance, via remote or pre-programming, it is a careful and up-close undertaking. How spectacular that each one of us has been knit together by God! We can actually say, "I have been handmade by God."

     To see Outreach Media's May poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

The death notices in the newspaper can make gripping reading as friends and family try to express all that a loved one's life meant to them and the world. A death notice is so final. A last broadcast to the community that a living being has finished contributing to this world.

     Mostly obituaries are a solemn expression of love, such as the notice written by Heath Ledger's family: "With much sorrow and sadness on the sudden loss of Heath. Our thoughts are with Kim, Sally, Kate, Ashleigh and Olivia. We will treasure our memories of a much loved nephew and cousin."

     Some are surprisingly honest, such as this notice from 7th August, 2008: "Dolores had no hobbies, made no contribution to society and rarely shared a kind word or deed in her life. I speak for the majority of her family when I say her presence will not be missed by many, very few tears will be shed and there will be no lamenting over her passing."

     To see Outreach Media's April poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

Want to live? Then trade. Barter, deal, exchange, do what you can with what you've got. If you've got time and expertise then swap it for money. Then swap the money for goods and services. This is the way the world works. It's how we survive.

     If you have nothing to offer, no skill or idea, no strength or money, land or goods, then you'd better hope that somewhere, someone cares for you, that somehow there's welfare. Otherwise you're doomed. Because, frankly, with nothing to trade for such basics as food, clothing and shelter, your time is short, and you won't survive.

     If you can get it, the easiest and best thing to trade with is money. It buys nearly every luxury imaginable. However, there is something you can't buy with money. Favour with God. That's because there's nothing God can buy that He doesn't already own. After all, He made the world! He runs the universe.

     To see Outreach Media's March poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

In case you hadn’t noticed, geek is chic, tech is cool and ‘apps’ are very much in. Most of the excitement is to do with smartphones like Apple’s iPhone and phones running the Android operating system.

     So why are people frothing over apps? Because they’re so useful! With all kinds of sound, motion and light sensors built in as well as cameras, GPS location and 3G data, the smartphone is the ultimate gizmo. It’s the 21st century electronic Swiss Army knife.

     Apps can help you check out train timetables and plan your journey or scan a bar code and instantly find the cheapest price anywhere in the world. You can use GPS to find out where you are and how long it will take to get where you’re going. You can even see what your destination will look like. Or why not point your phone at a public building and let it tell you what you’re looking at. Or point it to the night sky and name a constellation.

     To see Outreach Media's February poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

Ray Kurzweil is a famous and brilliant scientist. He predicts that, by 2028, clever research will lead scientists to reverse engineer the brain, enabling computers to reproduce much of what our brains do everyday.

     Kurzweil has lots more predictions. In the last five or so years gadgets in our pockets (smart phones) have allowed us to easily access knowledge from all over the world and back through history via the internet.

Kurzweil predicts that by the 2030’s ordinary people will have all this implanted in their brains. Instead of looking at a gadget we’ll find answers by just thinking a question.

     Eventually, Kurzweil predicts that we’ll have holographic versions of our ancestors to look at and speak to and that we’ll even find ways to turn off the aging process.

     Kurzweil is a technological optimist. He’s hoping that technology will save the human race.

     To see Outreach Media's January poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

In 1988, Devon Harris, Dudley Stokes, Michael White and Samuel Clayton traveled 5000km for what seemed like a foolish exercise...

     These men were part of the first Jamaican bobsled team, which debuted at the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Many thought it was a joke and you can understand why. How could a winter sports team come from the Caribbean, let alone a team that had very little practice on a bobsled run and that owned no sleds? People will do almost anything for Olympic glory and for this we could excuse them their foolishness.

     At Christmas time we are reminded of another group of men who travelled a long distance. They followed a star in search of a baby they didn't know, who was born in a small country town in the middle of nowhere.

     To see Outreach Media's December poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

Have you heard the joke about the new boss? Wanting to stamp his authority on the workplace from his first day, the CEO of a company toured the office, looking for someone to sack. Sure enough, he found a young man who appeared to be lazing about. "You!" the boss barked. "How much do you earn in a week?"

     The nervous young man answered, "$400. Why?" The boss then slapped $1600 into the young man's hand and said, "Here's four weeks pay in advance. You're fired!"

     Content he'd made his point, the boss then asked the remaining employees, "What did that guy do here anyway?"

     Finally, one bravely answered: "Deliver the pizzas."

     It's a simple joke but one that reminds us that throughout our lives, we'll work for several, if not, dozens of different bosses. Each with a vastly different personality, which affects how we enjoy our jobs. What kind of boss do you have? The corporate bully who uses power to intimidate? The weak leader who doesn't have the respect of his or her employees?

     To see Outreach Media's October poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

I know a man who found out that his wife was cheating on him for years. Another man told me about being molested as a child.

     As a Christian minister I can say without doubt that 'forgiveness' is the most explosive and difficult topic of all. It's not hard to work out why. So many people have been wronged. And sometimes they tell me the messy details. Which can make me weep. Or get really angry.

     It might surprise you that I think anger is right. However the Bible agrees. 'Be angry' it tells us...'but don't let the sun go down on your anger'. In other words, anger must have an end. It's never justifiable to 'maintain the rage'.

     To see Outreach Media's October poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

On 27th July, 1996, Ivan Milat was finally convicted of seven 'backpacker' murders committed in the Belanglo State Forest south of Sydney in NSW, Australia. To this day, despite damning evidence, he says he is innocent. He's been called Australia's worst 'serial killer'.

     Like every country, Cambodia also has its killers. After the Vietnam war ended in 1975, Cambodia was ruled by the Khmer Rouge whose terrible leader, Pol Pot made war on his own people. Estimates vary, but at the very least one million Cambodians were killed for no reason other than being educated or perhaps wearing glasses or just being in the wrong place.

     To see Outreach Media's September poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

Have you decided who you'll vote for on August 21st?

     Will you vote for Labor's leading redhead, or Liberal's lover of budgie-smugglers? Or perhaps you're fed up with both of them and are planning to go with one of the minor parties. It's possible that you don't actually care who's elected. Maybe you think that going to the polling booth is simply a waste of time.

     But when the last ballots are counted you may be disappointed. You may feel unsure of how the result will affect you and your family. What can you do? Start a revolution? Move to another country?

    Whether or not you have an interest in politics, the fact is that this election will affect the lives of every Australian. The elected party will have the very important task of deciding what's best for our nation. Their decisions will impact areas as diverse as health care, immigration policy, education and foreign affairs.

     To see Outreach Media's August poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

Can you feel the excitement? That one magnificent moment where the whole world is on the edge of its seat, bristling with nerves as a ball rockets between defenders towards a goal? That breathless second when people everywhere silently plead: "Please God! Please God! Please God!" hoping for glory to remember for the rest of their lives? Then - YES! Goal! Victory! Lounge rooms full of friends jump to their feet and scream in utter joy. Car horns blare. Strangers hug in pubs. Stadiums erupt in loud singing. Players drop to their knees, weeping and hands clasped to their faces in prayer.

     With such euphoria, it's easy to see why many people say sport is religion - especially when it comes to the World Cup. But do you ever stop and think who you're praying to? Who actually might be listening?

     To see Outreach Media's July poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

Take two molecules of hydrogen, one molecule of oxygen and combine them in the right way. Incredible! Now you've got two molecules of water. That's all water is. Now, heat the water until it turns into a gas. It's usually called steam or water vapour. But there's nothing different about the gas at a molecular level. The gas is still made up of water molecules. In fact, all that's happened is that the molecules of water are further apart.

     So, there you go. Whenever you look up at the sky and see a giant cumulonimbus cloud standing up like some ancient battle fortress with imposing ramparts and mighty buttresses fortifying the heavens from terrestrial attack...well, get over it. Its just steam - water vapour. Nothing else!

     To see Outreach Media's June poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

Thankfully God doesn't think we're imaginary. Imagine if did? If He ignored us as though we didn't exist? If He simply walked away from His creation, like a failed project, abandoned to run its course? ... switching out the lights, turning off the rain, refusing to maintain the delicate ecological balance of our universe and our world...

     Thankfully, even though we treat him and others so badly, He's willing to forgive and stay committed to us. The Bible calls this grace. In grace He keeps the earth turning and preserves His creation. In love He preserves the precious conditions for life, even though we often forget and neglect Him. But sadly, some 'imagine' God's not there.

     To see Outreach Media's May poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

In 1937 a sailor called Frank Jenner left behind a life of addiction to gambling and became a Christian. Out of sheer thankfulness to God, Frank promised from then on to speak every day to ten people about eternal life.

     Everyday, for 28 years, usually on George Street in Sydney, Frank would politely offer people a tract and ask: "If you were to die tonight, where would you be, in heaven or in hell?". All told, Frank spoke to more than 100,000 people until his health deteriorated.

     To see Outreach Media's April poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

My name is Derek Higgo, I’m a psychotherapist in Sydney providing counselling for couples and individuals. The larger percentage of my work concerns men of different ages struggling with pornography. More and more people are struggling because pornography is not accountable, it’s anonymous and it’s so accessible.

     Sadly, by the time the men I speak to come to me, they’ve often developed a pattern of addictive behaviour, their marriages are damaged and they’re under a burden of immense shame, guilt and depression. Some are even considering suicide.

     To see Outreach Media's March poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

"God is dead" said Friedrich Nietzsche (German Philosopher 1844-1900). In saying this he concluded that this also meant the death of any fixed and eternal reference point for truth and morality. In effect, the death of truth and morality itself.

     So, what was left? Was there only one truth left in the universe? The simple truth that: there is no truth? That seems too ironic. Too good to be, well...true! But if it's not 'True', then where do truths come from?

     Nietzsche was right, they can only come from God. Without God, everything is relative or disconnected. Yet Truth or 'truths' seem to come creeping into every discussion we have. Is gravity true? Is it true that our earth has a Sun? Is it true that certain historical events took place?

     To see Outreach Media's February poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

Imagine playing hide and seek with God. My turn to count. 1... 2... 3... Where would He hide? What is the best hiding place ever? The God of the universe would definitely know all the best places. 8... 9... 10...

     Before, when it was my turn to hide, the all-seeing Father just had to open His eyes to see me. Only He didn't even need to open His eyes because the all-knowing Father knew where I'd hidden. Only He didn't even need to think about it because the Father who prepared all things before creation knew where I was going to hide before I hid there. Hiding from God isn't easy!

18... 19... 20... Here I come, ready or not!

     To see Outreach Media's January poster and read about the meaning behind it, follow the link... | more... |

December 2009: Jesus. Not available in stores. God's Christmas gift... | more... |

November 2009: Don't Let Christians Put You Off Jesus!... | more... |

October 2009: Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life"... | more... |

September 2009: Too brainwashed to read the Bible?... | more... |

August 2009: Then what?...  | more... |

July 2009: A txt msg frm God... | more... |

June 2009: Even if you don't make a sound, God still hears... | more... |

May 2009: Get clean... | more... |

April 2009: Wondering if God loves you? Easter nails it... | more... |

  March, 2009: God Hates Religion... | more... |