Silver Linings: Spirtuality in Life

Episode 37: Act As-if

The Act as-if technique has been used for centuries by philosophers, spiritual leaders, and motivational speakers to help people change their behaviour, achieve their goals, and improve their lives. The idea behind act as if’ is simple: if you want to change something about yourself, start acting as if you have already changed. 

In Silver Linings, Terry Lees draws on the teachings of the straight-shooting St Paul to show how we can surrender to God by acting as if we are who God says we are.

Episode 36: What is Time?

How often have you heard the statement: "If only there were more hours in the day?"

Time favours no one. We all have the same amount of time each day - 24 hours or 1440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. We are all equal in that respect. No one receives any more or any less.

The Ancient Greeks spoke of time as chronos and kairos, both Greek words which mean time, yet they imply different things. Yet, what is time? 

In Silver Linings, Terry Lees seeks to respond to this question, while investigating chronos and kairos and how they both influence our lives.

Episode 35: Optimism and Faith

"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," a tongue-in-cheek comedy song written by Monty Python member Eric Idle, first featured in the 1979 Python film Life of Brian and was a Top 10 hit in the Australian Music charts. It is a theme song for optimists.

An optimist is a person who engages in positive thinking and looks on the bright side of life. An optimist is inclined to be hopeful and to expect good outcomes.

Faith is described as the substance or assurance of things we hope for but have not yet received.

In Silver Linings, Terry Lees explores the strong connection between optimism and faith. Terry concludes that by maintaining an optimistic outlook, rooted in unwavering faith and a conviction of our own abilities, we unlock the potential for achievement.

Episode 34: I Know the Shepherd

In Silver Linings, Terry Lees shares two stories about the Good Shepherd.

One story is about a priest teaching a group of young children about the Good Shepherd, while the second recounts a Shakespearean actor who would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23 with the incredible ability to bring the verse to life.

Terry poses a question aimed at the listeners of Silver Linings: What is the Good Shepherd calling you to do?

Episode 33: Say G’day to the Creator

The song “G’Day G’Day” written by Rob Fairbairn and sung by Aussie icon Slim Dusty captures the essence of the Australian way of life. Its lyrics celebrate friendship, connection, and inclusivity.

In Silver Linings, Terry Lees shares that he says “g’day” a lot. It is a typical Aussie greeting, an abbreviation of ‘good day,’ used to signify good morning, good afternoon, good evening.  

What might be construed as surprising is that g’day is the first word Terry utters when he opens his eyes upon waking each morning!  It’s part of his prayer life and the way he greets God every day!  Terry shares how nothing is out of bounds when he talks with God.

Episode 32: Just Checking-In Today

In Silver Linings, Terry Lees shares a poem about a man named Ben and his way of praying.

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

Terry recounts that life is more than a journey, it’s an adventure, an epic one, much like the turbulent thrilling quests of Indiana Jones! And there are journeys within the journey. The road is not always smooth.  

Terry Lees encourages us to check-in with Jesus today.

Episode 31: The Perfect Man and One Solitary Life

Christmas Day celebrates the life of the most extraordinary man who ever lived. Yet, just who was Jesus?

In Silver Linings, Terry Lees share two articles that provide answers you might not normally expect to find in traditional media but, in these cases, that’s exactly where they were published. They are inspirational in reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas.

Terry explains that it is in the light of the stable and the sight of the child that we realise for what we must spend our efforts in this war-torn, confused, exploitative world: Whatever we have done or hope to do, we must make this world better.

As we celebrate Christmas, Terry Lees encourages us to pause for a moment to offer thanks for this year and for our own lives.

Episode 30: Christmas Gifts from God

In Christmas Gifts from God, Terry Lees explains why he loves Christmas, his favourite time of year, a time to be with family, foster love, togetherness and sharing, reaffirming and strengthening of the positive values that bind us together. It’s a time to celebrate life, the past year, remember when’s, share stories, laugh together, create new and lasting memories.

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving. Yet, Terry shares that as he’s grown older, the Christmas gifts he’s become more aware of, are those from God - the message of Bethlehem: love, forgiveness, salvation.

Terry speaks of the humanity of Jesus, one of us, of the extent of the love of God and of the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas Gifts from God is compelling listening.

Episode 29: On Santa's Team

In Silver linings, Terry Lees shares a touching story of what happened when a young boy was told “There is no Santa Claus.”

It is a story which highlights the meaning of Christmas is a time of joyful giving. As Jesus teaches: Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. [Luke 6:38].

Nobody sees Santa Claus but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.... Thank God! He lives, and he lives forever.

Episode 28: You Are Loved

In Silver linings, Terry Lees shares: Years ago, one of my loved ones shared an amazing experience. Due to a crisis in her life, she felt depressed, suffering low self-esteem. 

While at work filling the cereal shelves of a supermarket, a loved one came across a small card deliberately placed. The front side read: To the person who finds this card. You are LOVED … On the rear was written: …and you have incredible value.

Those few words, a simple gesture from some unknown Good Samaritan, sent her spirits soaring, resulting in a complete change of attitude that lifted her from depression to positive expectancy and joy. You are LOVED … and you have incredible value.

Terry claims that your relationship with yourself is the most defining factor in shaping the kind of life you live. Listen as Terry explores love.