I wonder who decided Australia should have a ‘Reconciliation Week’ with our First Nations peoples? ‘Justice Week’ might have been an easier option? We could list out the issues, sort out how to recompense, and then move on. If you think about it, given Australia’s shared history, ‘Justice’ already is a difficult journey. But someone decided we needed more than … Read More
ARE YOU EXCITED FOR ELECTIONS?
Are you excited for election time? Has an election stump speech thrilled you? I admit I am yet to be excited or thrilled, at any government election. The flurry of promises, attacks, criticisms, claims, raise more questions than enthusiasm. This is disappointing, as so much of our lives are shaped by our government. I hope for something far better. Nearly … Read More
Contributing to a wider work
Our church is connected to a family of churches known as the Baptist Churches of SA. This is a group of 70 Baptist churches and through our shared mission we do more together than apart. The Baptist family resource pastors, church leaders, ministries, and organisations. Together we have endeavours such as Baptist Care SA, Crossover, Baptist Mission Australia, Baptist World … Read More
THE IMPACT OF A MOTHER
Recently dear friends of mine lost their mother to cancer. Mother’s Day will be a difficult day. Their mum was the hub of the family. Her grandson named her the family’s “wisdom keeper and memory maker.” She was a powerful combination of servant, leader, softness, and strength. Her sacrifices, her tears, her joy, her faith, her love have formed her … Read More
God Can
The late great theologian Ray Anderson used to say that the whole Bible can be summed up in two words – GOD CAN. From the beginning, God demonstrates that he can… create a world of beauty out of nothing, raise up a people from an old childless couple, rescue his people from oppressors, bring them into a new land, defeat … Read More
HELPING OTHERS JOIN OUR CHURCH
What was it like the last time you joined a new social group? This might have been a party, book club, sporting group. Did you know anyone? Who helped you make friends? How did you feel walking into a crowd of strangers for the first time? For most people, this is hard work. Possibly such hard work, it is rarely … Read More
HOW TO LIVE WITH OUR ENEMY DEATH
Easter Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 A dear friend of my family passed away this week. She had been steadily declining for months, now sadly and possibly with some relief, is at rest. To my shock, another friend passed away last week very suddenly. We know death is inevitable, yet it is not something we like to talk about. We may … Read More
PREPARED FOR THE CROSS
Lent Reading: Luke 22:14-23:56 How holy will this coming week be? As you do all you must do, how will you prepare for Easter? A catholic friend told me Easter in his tradition is bigger than Christmas. For the Christian this makes sense. This is no ordinary time of year because this is no ordinary story. What begins at Christmas … Read More
DOES JESUS HAVE YOUR HEART?
Lent Reading: John 12:1-8 The average wage in SA is currently around $75,000 pa. In our passage today Mary used a large amount of expensive perfume, to anoint Jesus’ feet. The estimation was its value was a year’s wages. It is difficult to find perfume that expensive. It is difficult to come to terms with using it like this. Judas … Read More
WHEN YOU GET WHAT YOU DON’T DESERVE.
Lent Reading: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Years ago, I was taught a helpful distinction between justice, mercy, and grace. Justice is getting what you deserve; mercy is not getting what you deserve; grace is getting what you don’t deserve. Clever. I wonder, does it capture the heart of justice, mercy, grace? Can it? Jesus tells the parable of the ‘Seeking Father’ … Read More