Introduction For a long time, when I first became a Christian, I could not believe that God loves me.  I believed that I was not good enough for that.  This made me extremely unhappy.  I could affirm that God loved … Continue reading →

Isaiah and Jesus[1]  St Mark’s Anglican Bassendean Isa 6:1-13 Ps 24 Acts 7:44-53; John 12:36-43 Preamble I connect very strongly with Isaiah, for 21 years ago at the end of a week of prayer when I felt extremely crushed I … Continue reading →

Stop the Boats Personal Contradictions Many Perth churches minister into the Third World but few preach the plight of the global poor as an issue of biblical justice. The fate of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran incites frenzied interest but … Continue reading →

Introduction It is my desire to understand all of the significant Old Testament themes through the person of Jesus.  I have previously spent some time exploring the Sabbath and its fulfilment through Christ.  In this meditation I will explore another … Continue reading →

Today in Church for Good Friday (3/4/15) I understood something which I have not understood before.  After celebrating the Passover with his disciples, Jesus was arrested and tried in several different trials, before being sentenced to death and crucified.  I … Continue reading →

There are many questions in life and some seem to have no answer.  One of the questions which most often bother me is the matter of timing.  If I know that I have been called to do something in particular … Continue reading →

Bruised: A Good Friday Meditation  Personal Matters Many today feel like we are living in a time of intensifying spiritual warfare, and given the media attention provided to terrorism it is not surprising that talk of the “last days” is … Continue reading →

This week (27/3/15) the course I have been teaching has reached a discussion of the doctrine of biblical inerrancy.  This doctrine states that the Bible has no errors because it is inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16), who is all … Continue reading →

Blood in the Cloud Personal Matters In a recent chat a friend excitedly shared how in a newly launched ministry they had taken up the practice of prayerfully blessing everyone who visited their building. This custom was already bearing remarkable … Continue reading →

The Puzzle of Humanity Personal Matters Being human is a struggle. Looking back over my life I can see three phases of inner wrestling. When I was an unbeliever I nearly went crazy, especially when drunk, turning over and over … Continue reading →

Corporate Wisdom: the Architecture of God Introduction Churches influenced by Western culture split between an emphases on the relevant, pragmatic and influential e.g. mega church profile, and what is incarnational, creative and diverse, e.g. emergent church profile. A different approach … Continue reading →

Face Up Personal Matters Years ago I was at the centre of a shock few would believe could come happen in an Anglican Church; people were shouting, pointing their fingers, crying, rushing out of the service, angrily accusing me of … Continue reading →

My Father’s Business “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). A while ago, I was at a small meeting with some people with a mutual interest in Christ’s kingdom in the workplace. We … Continue reading →

Vindicate My Righteousness   Personal Matters At last Saturday’s prayer meeting for persecuted Christians I felt completely out of my depth; “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how … Continue reading →

Blessed to be a Blessing   Gen 27:30-38; Ps 133; Eph 1:3-10; Matt 14:15-21 Introduction In the beginning “God created man in his own image …male and female he created them.” And because God liked what he had made, “God blessed … Continue reading →

I often wonder what is the purpose of prayer.  This is not a question of whether prayer moves the heart of God or whether he hears us when we pray.  There are many clear passages about this in scripture and … Continue reading →

The Crisis of Authority                      Deut 18:15-20; Ps 111; 1 Cor 8; Mark 1:21-28 Introduction Moses prophesied to a rebellious Israel in the wilderness; ““The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me…it is to him you … Continue reading →

Australia’s Zeal.                                                                                                      25.1.2015 Personal Matters Travelling abroad often brings perspective, and our recent trip to S.E. Asia did exactly that. Within two minutes of being with several taxi drivers in Kota Bharu (Malaysia) I knew exactly where they were in … Continue reading →

Grace without Limit Personal Matters As a young Christian zealot I relished opportunities to defend the Lord’s truth, these days I need to be faced with a controversy to make comment. So there I was at a Boxing Day party … Continue reading →

Safe Introduction In a changing world God is recalling us as Church to the seemingly impossible, to be “The Safest Place On Earth” (Larry Crabb). Just a few weeks ago the man on my right at a city bar spoke … Continue reading →

Epiphany Isa 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-7, 10-14; Eph 3:1-12; Matt 2:1-12 Introduction Today is the Feast of The Epiphany, a story about the manifestation of Christ to the Gentile nations represented by the “wise men”. To properly appreciate this story we … Continue reading →

2015 Reversal and Refuge 2014 will be remembered as a year of great evils; MH 370 disappears somewhere to the west of Perth; MH 17 is shot down over Ukraine; another flight “goes missing” over Indonesia; Ebola breaks out in … Continue reading →

Relinquish                              Luke 2:25-35                                                    28.12.14 Introduction Decades ago I pointed out that his opinion that that death could never be a good thing was contradicted by the story of Simeon. Luke tells us that “it had been revealed to him … Continue reading →

Happy Holidays Personal Matters I have never felt happier with God than at this stage of my life and the abiding presence of his goodness is growing ever stronger. The root of these feelings stands in stark contrast to the … Continue reading →

Recently, I had a strong sense that the Holy Spirit is saying that God wants to heal more people than he does.  Before I explain how this might happen I must confess that I am not given to praying for … Continue reading →

The Government of Peace Preface By way of introduction I need to explain that in the Bible the word “peace” does not mean the absence of conflict. It means something like wholeness, healing and salvation (Deut 6:24-26; Luke 7:50; 8:48). … Continue reading →

Satan, Siege, Survival            16.12.12 Post Trauma Reflections God has been speaking to his Church through the hostage siege in Sydney. If we have ears to hear him the Lord is speaking powerfully to draw the comfortable Western Church into … Continue reading →

Complete Personal Matters Sometimes the Lord has to speak to us multiple times over a period of years before his word is “piercing to the division of soul and of spirit…discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.…” (Heb 4:12). … Continue reading →

Many people claim to represent God.  There are many religions in the world.  For the most part Christians are not fooled into thinking that these are true paths to God.  There are cults which Christians generally recognise as cults and … Continue reading →

In John’s Gospel, Jesus makes a statement which seems quite strange at first sight.  “Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind”” (John 9:39).  This … Continue reading →