Domestic Violence and the Identity of the Church[i] Personal Matters Our nation is in the midst of a seemingly interminable crisis. One in six Australian women over 15 has experienced domestic violence (d.v.) from a current or former partner. Nearly … Continue reading →

Recently I have been listening to some preaching on YouTube.  The first set of preachers were trying to justify why we should accept openly practicing homosexuals as brothers and sisters in Christ, since they claim that the biblical passages which … Continue reading →

Recognise Mt Zion Aussie Indigenous Church Belmont 11/4/15 Introduction I had an aboriginal friend in primary school, and we were the legal guardians of a niece who lived with us and whose dad was an Indigenous elder; but my serious … Continue reading →

There are some heretical preachers I have listened to lately who lay claim to knowing some things which others do not.  They proclaim secrets which few can understand, or so they believe.  There is no value here is recounting these … Continue reading →

Joseph of Arimathea St Mark’s 11/10/15 Gen 23:3-9, 17-19; Ps 16:5-11; Isa 53:1-9; John 19:38-42 Introduction People may debate whether the gunman in the recent American massacre actually targeted Christians, but what is not debatable is that the government of … Continue reading →

The Beauty Parlour Personal Matters I have not slept soundly since a church related trauma around 20 years ago, but since being on retreat recently things have been considerably worse. (When you feel tired out before 9 a.m. in the … Continue reading →

Discerning the Spirit Personal Matters Recently someone shared with weeping about the sudden unexpected loss of a spouse. In the midst of their grief I could sense that this was a dark episode in which the Holy Spirit was moving … Continue reading →

Recently I stumbled upon some websites and videos about Islam.  In particular there were some instructions about how to become a Muslim and advice about what to do as a new convert to Islam.  I am fairly ignorant about Islam … Continue reading →

Remember Part 2: Jesus and his Father Personal Matters In the previous “Remember” I described overwhelming feelings of regret I experienced when on retreat in Kalbarri. These regretful emotions were grounded in remembering past decisions/actions which I now judge to … Continue reading →

My Dream I had a dream which went like this:  It was night time and I looked out the back door and saw first of all that the neighbour’s back yard to the right was on fire.  Then I looked … Continue reading →

The Image and the Voice Introduction Processing current affairs through the lens of scripture always opens up surprising perspectives. I believe that the traumas of our time are opening up the global Church to a level of unity and maturity … Continue reading →

Remember Part 1: Good and Wrong Personal Matters Last week I was on retreat in Kalbarri, north of Perth. I anticipated time alone to reflect on the mystery of the Trinity and its implications for the current same-sex marriage debate. … Continue reading →

Introduction Several times recently I have heard the claim that Jesus never said anything about homosexuality.  Presumably this statement is intended to justify acceptance of homosexual practice and open the way to same-sex unions in law.  However, it is not … Continue reading →

Glory Stolen and Returned Introduction When this month I received an Anglican Prayer Diary with not one prayer addressed to God the Father, and at a public meeting no less a Pentecostal than Margaret Court said “Many Pentecostals today talk … Continue reading →

The Intercessory Life Personal Matters I have long believed that God is working through even the seemingly “minor” things of life to bring us to Jesus. Sometimes however we are surprised to discover an aspect of the Spirit’s actions in … Continue reading →

Mary and Martha: the Way of Discipleship St Mark’s 23.8.15 Isa 26:1-12;Psalm 16; Phil 4:4-7;    “Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had … Continue reading →

Excommunication: the grace of the Father “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you…Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as present, … Continue reading →

Precious Personal Matters “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel … Continue reading →

Cry Mercy Introduction Whilst I am aware of various groups starting up to pray for revival in Australia, I see an essential ingredient missing in the prayer life of the Church; I am not hearing deep cries to God for … Continue reading →

Paul  St Mark’s 2.8.15                 Isa 43:1-10; Ps 71:1-16; Acts 9:1-22; Luke 24:44-48  Introduction  (Saul>Paul) Testimony: This has been a pressured week. I had to deal with various very painful situations in people’s lives when I was in Melbourne Wednesday-Thursday, I … Continue reading →

John the Baptist St Mark’s Church on the Rise 19.7.15 (Isa 40:1-8; Ps 139:1-16; Acts 19:1-7; Luke 3:1-18)   Introduction John the Baptist is perhaps the most misunderstood of all biblical characters. When a preacher labelled John “harsh and legalistic” … Continue reading →

Personal Matters The Lord is preparing his Church for a reformation as momentous as anything that has happened in the last 500 years. In this context I was privileged to attend a seminar on the relationship between Church and Marketplace … Continue reading →

Christian worship on Sunday has a significance which goes well beyond merely encouragement, fellowship and corporate worship.  This significance is related to the designation by the early church of Sunday as the Lord’s Day.  To grasp what this means we … Continue reading →

SHE Personal matters The deepest revelation comes in the context of conflict, because it involves sharing in the sufferings of Christ (Heb 10:32). Such enlightenment however does not come automatically but through willing submission to God’s profoundly exacting purposes. The … Continue reading →

On Friday morning (3rd July 2015) in the small hours the coach of the AFL team the Adelaide Crows was (allegedly) murdered in his home in Adelaide.  The response in the media (both traditional media and social media) to this … Continue reading →

Resource W.A. Personal Matters Watching the Swan winding towards Perth then walking across an overpass for rail lines and the Freeway headed towards our CBD I sensed the Lord speaking about cities as concentration points of natural and human resources. … Continue reading →

Fear God Luke 9:28-36 (NLT) Heb 5:7 (RSV) Mark 14:32-36; Mark 15:33-34 (ESV) Red Door CC 28.6.15 Introduction The topic today I have been given today to complete your series on fear seen through the life of Peter is the … Continue reading →

This message was delivered to Tabor College Combined Chapel in September 2013. I have lost a lot of weight since the start of this year.  If you pay attention you may have noticed that I don’t eat chocolate anymore, and … Continue reading →

Recently[1] my upper arm and shoulder began to hurt and then the pain got worse so that I could not move my arm or lie down to sleep.  In an effort to get rid of the pain, I consulted both … Continue reading →

Jonah and Jesus St Mark’s Bassendean 21.6.15 Jonah 2; Psalm 88:1-10; Acts 2:22-24; Matt 12:38-41 Introduction The book of Jonah is a shocking book, not because it tells the story of a God who puts a prophet in the belly … Continue reading →