Poetry – Mark Conner

The Home Crowd

Mark Conner — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 16:52:33 +0000

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

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God’s Love for Me

Mark Conner — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 04:49:25 +0000

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

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Welcome to Spring!

Mark Conner — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 19:00:03 +0000

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

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Gone

Mark Conner — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 02:00:59 +0000

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

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Stormy Winds

Mark Conner — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 23:57:00 +0000

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

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The Mystery of our Emotions (Part 2)

Mark Conner — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 05:00:00 +0000

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

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A Bigger World

Mark Conner — Thu, 11 May 2017 18:00:00 +0000

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

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For a New Beginning

Mark Conner — Wed, 10 May 2017 18:06:14 +0000

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

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Reflections on Midlife

Mark Conner — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 07:00:00 +0000

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

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Time

Mark Conner — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 10:32:58 +0000

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

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The Finish Line

Mark Conner — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 19:10:00 +0000

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

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The Great Unknown

Mark Conner — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 20:37:50 +0000

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

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Life’s Journey

Mark Conner — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 01:15:00 +0000

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

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Crossroads

Mark Conner — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 01:51:00 +0000

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

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Selah

Mark Conner — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 05:48:00 +0000

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

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