The people of Nepal continue to grapple with the after shock of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook their country last week. So far more than 5,000 lives have been lost with some remote valleys cut off from help - raising fears that the death toll could rise. International relief and rescue teams have … Continue reading Nepal Earthquake
Re-Fuel
Have you ever been on a long drive interstate that took a few days? One of the things I hate to do is stop for petrol. Do you know why? It’s because all of those semi-trailers, caravans, and slow pokes that I have meticulously passed are all going to pass me while I am filling … Continue reading Re-Fuel
Jack Simpson and His Donkey (an ANZAC Hero)
The ANZACs have a great hero called John 'Jack' Simpson Kirkpatrick who enlisted and was chosen as a field ambulance stretcher-bearer in Perth on 23 August 1914. On 25 April 1915, long with the rest of the Australian and New Zealand contingent he landed at the wrong beach on a piece of wild, impossible and savage … Continue reading Jack Simpson and His Donkey (an ANZAC Hero)
ANZAC Day – 100 Year Anniversary
Tomorrow, in Australia and New Zealand, we commemorate the centenary of ANZAC Day. 'ANZAC' stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On the 25th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the Allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. The ANZACs landed on Gallipoli and met fierce … Continue reading ANZAC Day – 100 Year Anniversary
Travel
I admire the many Christian mission workers around the world. Many of them work in some of the poorest, least evangelised and most persecuted countries in the world. Personally, I believe everyone should have a passport. We encourage everyone in our church to go on a short-term team to another nation sometime in their life … Continue reading Travel
The Audience of One
Every one of us experiences something we could call “the grandstand affect.” From a very young age, we have people watching us and responding to our choices and actions. If we do something that people like, they cheer us on. If we do something that people dislike, they frown at us or they may even … Continue reading The Audience of One
Move On
Have you ever been to a really bad movie? I’m sure you have. Did you go see it again? Of course not! Did you buy the DVD? Come on ... Why would you watch through something you didn’t like all over again! That would be silly. But in reality that’s something we all do from … Continue reading Move On
Embracing our Sentness
Here is a recently published book I'd like to recommend - Sentness: Six Postures of Missional Christians by Kim Hammond and Darren Cronshaw. From the back cover: Ever wonder why people fall asleep in church? It happens. We’ve all seen it. We shuffle into rows of seats that grow more comfortable with every new fundraising campaign. We slouch … Continue reading Embracing our Sentness
He’s Risen! (Easter Sunday Reflections)
Matthew tells us the story like this: Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face … Continue reading He’s Risen! (Easter Sunday Reflections)
Why Did Jesus Die? (Good Friday Reflections)
Christmas is barely over and now it’s time to talk about Easter. No wonder little children get confused. Did you hear about the little boy who said to his mother, “Jesus has just been born and now you’re telling me He’s died!" Over this Easter weekend, millions of Christians will reflect on what Jesus Christ … Continue reading Why Did Jesus Die? (Good Friday Reflections)
The Greatest Love of All
"There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." Jesus - John 15:13. NLT
Great Love
“We can’t all do great things but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa