There is an interesting story in the Gospel of Luke about Jesus and his home town crowd – Nazareth. Jesus grew up here. Everyone knew him as ‘Joseph’s son’. After reading the Scripture in the synagogue one Sabbath, people were surprised by how well Jesus spoke.… Read the rest
God’s Love for Me
One of the most well-known Jesus stories is his interaction with a Samaritan woman at a well, as recorded in the Gospel of John. This woman had come to draw water from Jacob’s well. She was alone and it was midday.… Read the rest
Welcome to Spring!
Welcome to the first day of Spring! At least here in Australia where I live. This last week I spent time walking along Melbourne’s iconic Yarra River. Wildflowers were bursting into bloom everywhere. Here is one of the photos I took on my phone.… Read the rest
Gone
None of us like to talk about death. It is an enemy that steals away the ones we love. My step-mum, Rene Conner passed away recently. It’s been hard for all for all of us, but especially for my dad. I was walking through their home a few days back – so empty now.… Read the rest
Stormy Winds
Have you ever been in the middle of a storm – a literal one or maybe a storm of adverse circumstances? I sure have – many of them and of all kinds. In fact, just over three years ago, Nicole and I were in the middle of what felt like a perfect storm.… Read the rest
The Mystery of our Emotions (Part 2)
Yesterday, we started talking about the mystery of our emotions.
I am a fairly optimistic person and therefore I have a lot of positive emotions. My family have called me everything from 'Peter Pan' to ‘Tigger'. Yes, I do have a lot of enthusiastic energy … usually from the moment I wake up.
… Read the rest A Bigger World
I hope you enjoyed John O'Donohoe's poem, For A New Beginning.
It really resonated with me, mainly because of the changes and transitions that Nicole and I have navigated over these last few years. Back in October 2015, I was at Phillip Island with some pastors on a two-day retreat.… Read the rest
For a New Beginning
My wife, Nicole, just returned from a week's Silent Retreat on the beautiful Bellarine Penisula in Victoria. The dogs (we have two – Oscar, the kindest labrador you've ever met, and Nikki, the naughtiest, yet smartest pugalier ever to enter the world) and I managed to survive while Nicole was away.… Read the rest
Reflections on Midlife
In my recent farewell address, I noted how differently you see life at age 55 compared to your early 20s and 30s. When you are young, you think you will live forever! But life and time do move quickly. The stages of life seem to progress with increasing speed: childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, midlife, mature adulthood and late adulthood and before you know it, the end of life is in sight.… Read the rest
Time
Good morning, everyone.
It's hard to believe it, but Christmas is over and the new year is well underway. I've just returned to work after 3 week's of holidays and I only have 6 more weeks before I finish up in my role as Senior Minister as CityLife Church.… Read the rest
The Finish Line
Today was my last official day of work for 2016. I spoke at all 5 of our church's Christmas carols presentations this weekend. It was a lot of fun and it was great to see so many people there, especially so many visitors.… Read the rest
The Great Unknown
Sometimes in life we experience 'more of the same' as we deal with the familiarity of routine. At other times, there is the adventure of new things and of entering uncharted waters. That's my life right now.
I am in the process of transitioning out of a staff role at CityLife Church where I have served in various roles for almost 32 years, and for 22 years as the Senior Minister.… Read the rest
Life’s Journey
Mountain top and valley
Sunshine and rain
Calm and storm
Ease and pain
Joy and sorrow
Hope and disappointment
Laughter and tears
Known and unknown
Darkness and light
Night and day
Summer and winter
Blue skies and fog
Confidence and fear
Faith and doubt
Answers and questions
Lost and found
Enemies and friends
Acceptance and rejection
Approval and shame
Sin and forgiveness
War and peace
Unity and conflict
High and low
Life and death
Yet these three remain
Faith, hope and love
Father, Son and Spirit
Eternal God
Ever faithful and true.… Read the rest
Crossroads
At another crossroads
So many options
Destination competition
Loud voices
Multiplicity of signs
Stay on the same course
Or make a turn?
Popular highway
Or the road less travelled?
Moving fast
Trying to read the map
Traffic congestion
Important decisions
Take a pit stop
Pull out of the race
Just for a moment
Catch your bearings
Where have you been?… Read the rest
Selah
My joy, my peace, my source, my life
My rock, my anchor, my refuge, my strength
My healer, my freedom, my restorer, my transformer
My wisdom, my guide, my creator, my courage
My hope, my future, my vision, my inspiration
God Almighty
Blessed Trinity
Father, Son and Spirit
Selah
Pause and think about it… Read the rest