Southern Cross Reformer

Impractical???

2012-01-21T09:10:00.001+11:00

Mark 1:14-20 is useful for any preacher who is looking for that picture of the ideal response of every person to the call of Jesus. When the voice of Jesus calls, we should drop everything and respond. Anyone involved in the work of the church, myself included, dreams of the situation where when you ask someone to participate in some ministry or work…or better yet, when individuals see

All too easy...

2012-01-15T05:50:00.004+11:00

A couple of thoughts on the encounter between Jesus, Philip and Nathanael recorded in John 1:43-51. It seems all too easy in some ways. To Philip, Jesus simply says "Come with me!" A straight forward invitation. No interview. No CV. No theological examination. Just 'come'. Philip then goes to Nathanael and simply says "Come and see.". Another invitation. No six point presentation of the Gospel

The gifts we bring...

2012-01-05T12:31:00.003+11:00

There is an old joke about the visit of the Wisemen as recorded for us in Matthew 2:1-12. Wisemen bring gifts. Wise women would have brought casseroles.Though some might see it as sexist, I think it also shines a light on an interesting topic. What do I bring to worship the Christ-child?The Wisemen's gifts seem lavish, costly and rich. Anything I bring pales in comparison. As consequence, I

Some questions...and a Christmas Blessing for you!

2011-12-23T10:28:00.000+11:00

Is there any particular purpose for the preparations you are making for Christmas this year? Preparing your home for the yearly gathering of family scattered far and wide. Madly shopping for gifts to give to all the people on your list. Concerned that you still haven’t finished mailing out your Christmas cards this year. Oh, and don’t forget the Christmas lights, the tree and the decorations.

Mary, Mary...

2011-12-16T11:07:00.006+11:00

Luke 1:26-38 records for us the visitation of Mary by the angel Gabriel. A surprising event by any standard. Angelic visitors are always noteworthy. The message that this one brings if even more so. Surprising. Noteworthy. Threatening. Challenging. The announcement that God has chosen Mary to be the mother of his son puts her at risk. Who among friends and relatives would believe the story of

The End is Near...but does it really matter???

2011-11-25T12:17:00.003+11:00

Mark 13:24-37 is one of those passages that is a favourite of the prophets of doom. Everything about the words of Jesus points to the signs that will precede the coming Day of the Lord...or the end of the world...or the Day of Judgment. (you choose your favourite descriptive phrase for this coming day) However, if we only see these words as applying to this future event we are the poorer for it

Are you feeling uncomfortable???

2011-11-18T08:09:00.001+11:00

So another parable of Jesus. This time about judgement. Not a comfortable topic. Not a comfortable parable. Jesus sets the scene. The Son of Man (the Messiah) has returned as King. Surrounded by angels he sits on the throne so this is about power and authority and judgement. There is no servant role here. No suffering messiah. This is the risen and returned Christ in all his glory and power. So

What motivates you?

2011-11-11T10:54:00.004+11:00

The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-31 is a well-known parable. A popular Sunday School lesson and a favourite of Stewardship Committees and Church Fundraisers. But like every parable of Jesus there are multiple layers in the story and a variety of perspectives. The most common is the idea of using the talents that God has given you as opposed to 'burying' them or hiding them away. This

Oil supply

2011-11-04T15:50:00.002+11:00

Matthew 25:1-13 presents us with the parable of the Ten virgins. The key factor seems to be the oil supplies of the women involved. The wise each bring an extra container of oil for their lamps in case the bridegroom is 'long in arriving'. The foolish do not. When the bridegroom does arrive this problem is made evident in the dialogue between the wise and foolish young women. The wise cannot

What do you mean by that?

2011-10-25T10:06:00.003+11:00

John 8:31-36 records a conversation that Jesus had with "those who believed in him." So we know that these are not people trying to trap him or test him, but ones who truly are listening to his teaching and following him in order to learn from him. To them Jesus connects obedience to his teaching with true discipleship (which is an obvious one), but then continues this chain to connect with

In whose image???

2011-10-14T12:45:00.002+11:00

Matthew 22:15-22 presents some interesting points.The question of the Pharisees to Jesus..."Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman, or not?" If Jesus says 'Yes' then he can be sidelined with the Zealots and defined as a traitor to Rome. If he says 'No' then he betrays his own people. Tricky question.Jesus' request for a coin is also interesting. The coin carried the imprint of Caesar

Maybe it's not just about God's grace...thoughts on Matthew 20:1-16

2011-09-16T10:17:00.002+10:00

This Sunday's Gospel reading is Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. Here are some thoughts and notes and further reflections...enjoy!Here's the parable...The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard 1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent

Calming the storm...

2011-09-08T14:05:00.002+10:00

In 2001 the world in which we live began to change when a series of coordinated terrorist attacks took place in the US. On this 10th Anniversary of that day in September I am posting the sermon I preached the following Sunday entitled: 'Calming the Storm'.Some thoughts on the WTC/Pentagon disaster.Let me preface these remarks with the fact that I am an American and the events of the past week

"I ain't people!"...and other thoughts on Matthew 18:15-20

2011-09-02T12:16:00.007+10:00

In the movie musical 'Singing in the Rain' the character of Lina Lamont, a silent screen star trying desperately to hold on to stardom with the advent of the talkies says, "People? I ain't people. I am a - shimmering glowing star in the cinema firmament!" When you get right down to it, most of us think like Lina. We are not people. 'People' are the problem. 'Those people'. And that is the

Some thoughts on Matthew 16:13-20

2011-08-19T12:04:00.000+10:00

Oddly enough it all begins in the far north of Palestine near a town named Caesarea Philippi. A town named for the Roman Emperor and the current king of the Jews, Philip. It was the home for the cult of Pan, the half-man/half-goat being better known for drunken orgies than theological and spiritual speculation. Yet in this setting Jesus opens the discussion with his disciples about his own

What do you think???

2011-08-13T08:07:00.002+10:00

In working through the story of the Canaanite woman and Jesus recorded in Matthew 15:21-28 I have found myself with more questions than answers and less understanding and more confusion. I am not keen on those who try to 'clean up' this text to make it more acceptable. There is strength in the story and in the woman and in Jesus, but I am wrestling with exactly where this is all going. Sunday's

Getting your feet wet...

2011-08-07T07:29:00.004+10:00

Matthew 14:22-33 is the interesting account of Peter getting his feet wet. In reading the story there are some things that particularly intrigue me. Here they are....Is the story about Peter's faith in getting out of the boat? If so, then why does Jesus make a point of his doubt? Was he trying to make the point that Peter could have walked futher if only he had clung to the faith in Jesus that

Do you trust me???

2011-07-27T09:43:00.001+10:00

Jesus had just received news that John the Baptist was dead. Murdered by Herod. His grief sent him to a lonely place to be by himself. But the people heard about this and follow him. Crowding into his private space and private time. When Jesus saw this large crowd that had come the distance to this lonely place to see him, he was filled with pity…with compassion…with love…and he healed those

Do you have your ears on???

2011-07-21T09:44:00.002+10:00

In Matthew 13:31-33 and 44-52 Jesus gives us the Kingdom Parables. Word and story pictures of the 'kingdom of heaven'. He talks about patience, slow growth, great sacrifice, total focus, and getting on with the job. He reminds us that we are simply to be casting the net out there and leave the judging and choosing to him. I suspect that is why we continue to claim to lack an understanding of

Weeds and wheat...which is which???

2011-07-14T12:58:00.001+10:00

Matthew 13:24-30 (36-43) The tares among the wheatAnother gardening parable, but this time Jesus seems more interested in the weeds. So much so that this parable is often referred to as ‘The Parable of the Weeds’. So let’s take a look at the parable and see what it says to the people of Jesus’ day and to us today.24 Jesus told them another parable: The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A

The parable of the Sower...

2011-07-08T14:22:00.004+10:00

Matthew 13:1-9 is an intriguing little tale. Let's ignore Jesus' interpretation recorded for us in vs18-23 of that same chapter for the moment and just look at some aspects of the parable itself. For instance as we read the parable the role of the hearer is both seed and soil. The seed that falls on the path is the Word of God and Jesus speaks of the hearer's heart as the soil which has been

Back to basics...

2011-06-24T12:58:00.004+10:00

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that

A couple of thoughts....John 20 and Matthew 28...

2011-06-19T06:26:00.003+10:00

I keep coming back to the fact that in the reading from John 20:19-23, Jesus sends out 'fearful' and 'fear-filled' disciples. He does impart the breath of the Spirit in them, but at the same time there is nothing to tell us that their fear has been removed or even lessened. Particularly when you read on and discover that one week later they are still 'locked' in the upper room.Now this week in

The Quiet Pentecost

2011-06-10T12:53:00.003+10:00

I like John 20:19-23...particularly vvs 21-22...the quiet Pentecost event. No sounds of a rushing wind. No visible signs appear like tongues of fire. No multitude of languages. No crowds of witnesses. No powerful preaching Peter. Just a bunch of fearful and fear-filled disciples in a locked room. The appearance of Jesus. His quiet calming "Peace be with you." And then he 'breathes' on them. He '

The Ascension...

2011-06-03T12:22:00.003+10:00

Though for the most part, the Ascension story is about the enthronement of Jesus as Lord of heaven and earth, from a human perspective it is also a story about loss and grief and hope. Luke records for us in Acts 1 how the disciples questioned Jesus about the establishment of their 'dream' kingdom, the restoration of Israel, proving once again that they still had not comprehended what Jesus was

"Love, and do as you will."

2011-05-27T11:03:00.002+10:00

The title for this week's comments are from St Augustine. I came across them in my reading and they struck home for me because they capture the essence of what is behind Jesus' words in John 14:15-21.Jesus here talks about love and obedience, another helper, about not leaving us orphaned and then finishes back where he started with words about love and obedience. Underlying all this is the

"...even greater things"...John 14:1-14

2011-05-20T12:00:00.003+10:00

So just what is Jesus saying here? Greater than what? Greater than whom? And what are these things anyway? Miracles? Successes? Advancement? One thing is for certain. If we want to see and experience the 'greater' things it means we can't sit around. There is action called for. Greater things involve doing things in the first place. But it is not just about acts of faith either. Sometimes

Shut up and listen!

2011-05-06T10:45:00.003+10:00

"Are you the only visitor..."So go the first words of Cleopas to Jesus. What I find interesting is that the word so blithely translated 'visitor' actually means 'stranger, exile or alien without civil or native rights'. The idea of Jesus as stranger or alien is so much more accurate than visitor. Jesus is a true child of Israel; living in exile Jesus was not of this world though creator…he came

So what about you???....some further thoughts on John 20:1-19.

2011-04-29T13:14:00.003+10:00

Thomas' confession is about "my" Lord and "my" God, not "the" Lord and "the" God. He is not claiming allegiance to a particular confessional statement or assenting to a dogma. Rather Thomas is claiming a relationship with Jesus, a relationship that defines itself in the 'Lordship' of Jesus and the divine nature of Jesus. Thomas' confession is key to this passage. Knowing that the Gospel writer's

Just who are you???

2011-04-28T10:33:00.002+10:00

A common theme in the resurrection stories is that Jesus appears to those who are closest to him, that is the people who know and love him, but they do not recognize him. Mary at the tomb. The disciples on the road to Emmaus. Even the disciples in the upper room see him as ghost. So is it any wonder that Thomas, not having had the opportunity to 'see' Jesus as the others, demands physical

Words...words...words...

2011-04-21T14:51:00.001+10:00

Maundy Thursday...maundy from mandate or command...to love one another...a new commandment...but it is also about life being stripped away...about serving...suffering...dying. The ultimate self-denial. Good Friday...God's Friday...sorrow or celebration? Persecution or proclamation of victory.Easter Day...yet to come.Supper...service...suffering...slain. What do all the words mean?Happy Easter??!!!

“What is it you want me to do for you?”

2011-04-07T11:09:00.003+10:00

As I was preparing for this Sunday I came across this sermon by the Rev Grace Imathiu based on John 11:1-45. I was so moved by it that I am posting it here for you. _________________ "Bethany: A Glimpse of Kingdom Living"A man named Lazarus is ill. You know what that’s like: itchy throat, watery eyes, clammy skin, high fever, can’t keep anything down. Lazarus is ill. And his illness is not just

And the blind receive their sight....

2011-04-01T13:18:00.002+11:00

John 9 tells the story of Jesus and the man born blind. Very early in the account Jesus heals the man and from that point on the story is about the many other blind people that surround Jesus and this man. The neighbours...the Pharisees...the man's parents...all suffer from blindness of one kind or another. There is a real irony in the fact that it is through the healing of this blind man that

It's not about you...

2011-03-18T12:02:00.001+11:00

We are called to proclaim the gospel in our life as church and in our individual lives as Christians. This Gospel is simply the good news about Jesus Christ. One of the difficulties is understanding just what precisely is this good news?There are two major distortions of the Gospel that are common in the church today. The first is what is often referred to as ‘the spirit-filled life’. In this

Great expectations...

2011-03-10T10:41:00.003+11:00

The temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4 is not just a record of the struggle between good and evil, between Jesus and Satan, but also highlights the popular expectations of who the Messiah was to be and what he was to do. It was believed that the Messiah would:Provide economic uplift for the community...If the Messiah would provide economic prosperity, they would quickly follow him…feeding of the

What, me worry???

2011-02-24T13:14:00.002+11:00

Matthew 6:24-34 is our text this week. A well-worn, over-worked text about worry...or should I say 'not worrying'? Jesus starts out telling us that we cannot serve two masters which is true enough. There are plenty of proverbs from other cultures that repeat this wisdom though my favourite has to be "You can't ride two horses with one ass". Sooner or later you have to decide which one will be

As if...

2011-02-13T05:59:00.002+11:00

Reading through Matthew 5:21-37 I get that feeling of being overwhelmed by what Jesus is setting as the standard for Christian living. It's not enough that the Law prevents me from external action, but now Jesus reminds me that the Law is also about internal reflection. Not just what I am doing, but what is it that motivates me and drives me. What are the attitudes behind what I do? The end

Salt City light and the Law...

2011-02-04T11:59:00.003+11:00

In Matthew 5:13-20 we find the words of Jesus where he describes our lives as Christians with the pictures of salt, a city on a hill, light, all things that are as noticeable by their absence as they are by their presence. Too much salt or too little salt and food is inedible or tasteless. A city on a hill dominates the sky line, but if it is destroyed it's absence still dominates the view. Light

The blessed are....

2011-01-28T11:07:00.003+11:00

Matthew 5:1-12, a portion of Scripture and the teachings of Jesus referred to as the Beatitudes. It received this name based on the Latin word for 'blessed'. These 12 verses have been studied, interpreted, re-interpreted, applied, turned inside out and back again over the many years since Jesus first spoke them on the unidentified hill somewhere in Palestine. The problem is that no one is

The 'everyday' disciple...

2011-01-14T09:26:00.001+11:00

When you think of the twelve disciples, who comes to mind? Peter...maybe James and John. It is so easy to remember Judas the betrayer and even Thomas, the doubter. Then again you may think of Matthew, the tax collector. But that is only 6 and Jesus had 12. My question today is did anybody think of Andrew? Some writers have described Andrew as an ‘everyday’ disciple. He is a disciple in the

It's that time of year...and are you hearing the same old story???

2010-12-24T11:15:00.001+11:00

The Saviour is bornIt’s an old story.It’s a well known story.It’s a story that is not widely believed anymore.It’s a story that provides a nice, warm, fuzzy feel to Christmas celebrations.It’s a story that has been diluted to the concept of being nice to one another and helping and sharing with others.It’s a story about God and power and sin and sacrifice and life and death.It’s a story about me…

Just what are you looking for?

2010-12-10T11:10:00.003+11:00

After proclaiming the approaching Kingdom of God and then pointing out Jesus as the very Lamb of God, we now find John asking "Are you the one who was to come or should we expect someone else?" John the Baptist's question is almost shocking. Has John lost faith? Is the closeness of death calling up his doubts? Or is it more that Jesus was not the winnowing fork of judgment that John had

2010-12-02T12:35:00.004+11:00

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 3:-12)"The kingdom of heaven has come near." Other translations say "is near". Are John's words really simply a warning of impending judgment which is how they are often interpreted. Or is John simply reminding us of something that is inherently true

A missed opportunity...

2010-11-16T15:19:00.003+11:00

The last servant mentioned in the Parable of the gold coin in Luke 19:11-27 only made one small mistake...and it had nothing to do with how he handled the money entrusted to him. The action of the nobleman in giving 10 servants an equal amount of money to manage in his absence was a sort of on-the-job training and head-hunting exercise. These were probably all servants in his household or

The fine line...

2010-11-05T10:37:00.002+11:00

There is a fine line between seeking out the truth and simply trying to gather supporting arguments for your own personal dogma and traditions. Luke 20:27-40 gives a great picture of how Jesus responded when put in this position. The Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, were simply trying to prove their point by creating a logically ridiculous picture. Which of the

Here is one reason why I love Martin Luther...

2010-10-29T11:08:00.001+11:00

Luther in a letter he wrote to Philip Melanchthon following the Diet of Worms:"If you are a preacher of grace, then preach a true not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and

Some thoughts on Luke 18:9-14...

2010-10-22T11:36:00.002+11:00

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector have something in common. Both men stand in isolation from God and from other people. One to preserve his purity...the other because he perceives himself to be unworthy and beyond the reach of God's mercy. Both positions are false. The Pharisee is most certainly not pure. The Tax Collector is most certainly within reach of God's mercy. The difference

Persistent prayer...persistent faith! Thoughts on Luke 18:1-8

2010-10-17T06:41:00.002+11:00

This is a one of the few parables of Jesus that provide us with a basic interpretation. At the very beginning of our Gospel reading today Luke records for us:Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged.It is a good place to begin as we listen and reflect on this parable, but I want to encourage you to listen for yourself. This

Leprosy...blindness...and in-between places...thoughts on Luke 17:11-19

2010-10-08T10:54:00.003+11:00

In reflecting on the text for this coming Sunday somethings to ponder...Jesus is in the 'border' lands...those 'in-between' places where you are neither here nor there. Like the lepers in the story, Jesus is outside the acceptable places. It says something about where we should be as Christians. Too often we want to be in the right places and the good places, but here is a reminder that we need

A couple of thoughts....on Luke 17:4-10

2010-10-01T10:22:00.001+10:00

Luke 17:4-10 poses some tough questions. When is faith enough faith? What should we expect as servants of God? If we are honest then the answers often make us uncomfortable.This prayer goes along way toward opening up this teaching of Jesus:"O God, I don't pray for enough faith to move mountains. I can get enough dynamite and bulldozers to do that. What I need and ask for is enough faith to move

Hell to pay!

2010-09-24T11:06:00.004+10:00

When I read through the story of the Rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 it seems to me that the message is pretty clear. Help out the less fortunate or there will be hell to pay. In the context of Jesus' repeated teaching on loving neighbour and his constant reminder about coming to serve rather than being served this parable strikes a somewhat harsher note. A bit more confrontational.

Lost sheep...lost coin...lost opportunities!

2010-09-10T11:30:00.002+10:00

Among the themes of Luke 15:1-10 we find the 'seeking' God and the idea that the loss of just one spoils the beauty and completeness of the whole. Factors we should keep in mind when wondering where God may be in a given situation or when deciding whether or not to continue working with someone whom God has brought into our life. Just as the shepherd and the woman in our stories never gave up

When I can't...can God?

2010-09-03T12:17:00.003+10:00

Some thoughts on Luke 14:25-33...Somebody should speak to Jesus about his recruiting methods. Using shame and sacrifice as basic considerations for discipleship and following him are particularly jarring to us today. Why doesn't he emphasize the feel-good, helping others aspect of the work??? Is it because he is deliberately trying to make the task of discipleship impossible for us? Does he

So where do I sit?

2010-08-27T11:46:00.003+10:00

Have you ever noticed that when you attend a wedding reception, go to a restaurant, or even simply visit with some friends over dinner that one question always comes up. "Where do I sit?" Apart from the fact that we often do need to have a place at the table so that we can eat, there is also the need to find our place...our space...and in that way define ourselves and locate ourselves within the

Bent out of shape....

2010-08-20T16:09:00.002+10:00

Luke 13:10-17 records the meeting between Jesus, the bound woman, and the Pharisees. The woman had remained 'faithful' despite her affliction and her healing inspired her praise to God. The Pharisee had remained 'faithful' to the traditions and was upset by what he saw as Jesus' flagrant disregard for the traditions. It raises a couple of questions. Both the woman and the Pharisee were

2010-07-29T15:15:00.002+10:00

John Wesley wrote in his journal, "When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart." A good starting point for thinking about the parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:31-21.The man in the parable was not a fool because he was rich. Neither was he fool because in some way he had been dishonest. He was a fool because money had found a way into his heart. There was no

Some notes on Prayer...reflections on Luke 11:1-13

2010-07-23T10:08:00.001+10:00

We speak of prayer is a relationship…as talking to God ...as listening to God. But these are all in and of themselves inadequate definitions/explanations of something much greater. For prayer is not:• a divine slot machine…put in a prayer…get your answer. • not always saying or doing things to change the situation…Prayer is about:• being present in life, relationships, situations• the

Mary and Martha...not Mary or Martha

2010-07-16T13:18:00.001+10:00

Mary and Martha Luke 10:38-42 Based on an article by Shawna R.B. AtteberryJesus is hanging out with friends in their home just like we do. Martha is doing the same exact thing most of us would be doing if Jesus came to visit us. Usually when we look at this story we like to put the sisters on opposite poles–Martha is the doer; Mary is the one being with Jesus. Martha has it all wrong. Mary has

Just what is the question??

2010-07-09T09:30:00.003+10:00

Luke 10:25-37 is the parable of the Good Samaritan. The story of a man who helps someone in need. It is a story that is often used to define the word 'neighbour'. Ironically we are seeing things from the wrong perspective if we think that a 'neighbour' is all about the person in need. Jesus' point is about defining who acted as a 'neighbour'. "The one who showed mercy" is the answer given. So

The would-be followers...

2010-06-24T14:15:00.003+10:00

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the

Luke 8...A living witness

2010-06-18T10:01:00.001+10:00

Its a popular story...Jesus meeting the demon-possessed man...casting the demons out who enter a herd of pigs feeding nearby...the pigs immediately rushing headlong down a steep embankment into the lake where they are drowned. Amazing stuff really. Great demonstration of the supernatural powers of Jesus, as son of God. Clear declaration of his victory over Satan and all his followers. But you

Don't you get it?

2010-06-11T11:34:00.004+10:00

Then Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven." Luke 7:48I don't think Simon was particularly self-righteous. I doubt very much that he thought himself a perfect person. There was too much in the life of a Pharisee that would have reminded him of his failures, his weakness, his sin and his need for God. Rituals of sacrifice and purification would be potent reminders on their own. What Simon failed

Raising the Dead....

2010-06-04T14:44:00.002+10:00

In Luke 7 we come across the story of Jesus raising the dead son of a widow who lived in a town called Nain. When I think about all the arrangements and preparations that had been made for the day of the funeral and all the emotional and psychological adjustments the mother of this lad had already gone through I can only surmise that his resurrection would have created a few difficulties along

3 in 1

2010-05-28T12:40:00.003+10:00

This Sunday (May 30)is Trinity Sunday. The only day of the church when we take time to reflect more on a teaching of the church than on the teaching of Jesus. This doesn't make it less valuable though since the concept of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is not the result of some isolated ivory tower dwelling scholars, but resulted from the people of God grappling with their experiences with

Get your ears on...

2010-05-23T06:46:00.002+10:00

How is it that we each hear them...??? Acts 2:8Is the miracle of Pentecost the gift of speaking in tongues or is it also the gift of hearing? So often when we read the Pentecost story all we see is the miracle of tongues, the opening of the disciples of Jesus to speak the Gospel in the many languages that make up human communication. A reversal of the problem that resulted from the Tower of

2010-05-14T15:47:00.002+10:00

"I pray that they may all be one." John 17:21It is nice to see that Jesus' prayers weren't answered all the time either. When you look around at the church today there doesn't appear to be much in the way of 'oneness'. But then is Jesus talking about 'oneness' in the sense of unity? There seems to be pretty common agreement among Biblical scholars that Jesus is not talking about organizational

Do you really want this????

2010-05-07T10:05:00.002+10:00

"Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6) One would think it an odd question for Jesus to ask someone who has spent the whole of their life to this point laying paralyzed and totally dependent on the charity of others. But it is a valid question nonetheless. Maybe this individual didn't really want the healing of Jesus. Maybe they were quite comfortable being a victim. It happens all the time.

Asking the impossible...

2010-04-30T11:42:00.002+10:00

When Jesus commands us to love one another "Just as I have loved you." he is not talking about the feigned affection that often passes for love within the faith community. Jesus is demanding the genuine article, that is the love that he has always shown for us. Is this even possible??? If I attempt this on the basis of purely human strength then the obvious answer is "NO!"So that leaves me with

Are you listening???

2010-04-22T10:29:00.002+10:00

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. John 10:27Hearing and listening are not the same. We hear sounds all the time, unless we are deaf. Everything from the sound of a siren to the slam of a door to a conversation in another room. Sometimes we hear the wind or the rain. At times it is the sound of birds. If you are affected with an inner disorder such as tinnitus then

Everything old is new again....

2010-04-16T13:01:00.004+10:00

Simon Peter said to the others, "I am going fishing.""We will come with you," they told him. So they went out in a boat, but all that night they did not catch a thing. John 21:3I find it interesting that despite the amazing events surrounding Easter...darkened sky, earth quake, dead being raised and then ultimately Jesus' resurrection from the dead and his personal appearances...the disciples go

There are times you wonder...

2010-04-01T10:59:00.002+11:00

I think I am in the right frame of mind for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Betrayal...ignorance...fear...loss...death...doubt. So the sermons should be spot on if I let them come from the heart. Easter could be interesting though. In some ways it is harder to make the transition through the story without there being a physical death and resurrection to witness. What we have is just the story.

Some thoughts on John 12:1-8

2010-03-19T12:08:00.002+11:00

Mary took half a litre of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured all of it on Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house. John 12:3In a world filled with horrible acts that we do to each other...murder, war, theft, adultery, terrorism...there is a voice that calls us to acts of love...rich and costly acts of love. Acts that are

Its not about being lost...

2010-03-12T10:12:00.005+11:00

"You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it...She lights a lamp, sweeps her house, and looks carefully everywhere until she finds it...He was still a long way from home when his father saw him." (Luke 15)It's easy when you read these parables to think about what is lost. Sheep. Coin. Son. All are valuable. But it struck me

Gardens, grace and manure....

2010-03-04T17:14:00.006+11:00

Luke 13:6-9 Then Jesus told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?''Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more

Reaching out...with open arms...

2010-02-28T06:47:00.002+11:00

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets, you stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times have I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you would not let me! Luke 13:34If you have ever loved someone you could not protect, then you understand the depth of Jesus’ lament. They are in pain or are lost or frustrated, but

Some thoughts on Luke 4:1-13 and temptation...

2010-02-19T10:14:00.002+11:00

Let’s just walk through the story and stop and reflect along the way. 1 Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert,2 where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.The first thing that we note is how Jesus came to be in the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. The

What would Jesus do?

2010-02-11T11:05:00.003+11:00

Peter said to Jesus, "Master, how good it is that we are here! We will make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (He did not really know what he was saying) Luke 9:33I disagree. Peter knew exactly what he was saying. He was saying...let's stay here. Let's keep the good times rolling. Let's not go back to real life where there is pain and misery and doubts and problems.

Something to consider...

2010-02-05T16:08:00.002+11:00

The problem with constant reading is that I note things down and then forget where they came from so if anyone can discover the book and author for this quote I would be appreciative...meanwhile...what he/she has to say is a telling commentary on the Illawarra Lutheran Church and asks the big question. Please read on...All living things grow -- you don't have to make them grow. It's the natural

Your Hometown....

2010-01-28T11:05:00.002+11:00

Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up...they were all well impressed with him and marvelled at the eloquent words that he spoke. They said, "Isn't he the son of Joseph?"...(Jesus said)You will also tell me to do here in my hometown the same things you heard were done in Capernaum. I tell you this, prophets are never welcomed in their home town."(Luke 4:16,22-24)It is so easy

Today...

2010-01-22T10:19:00.002+11:00

In reading for the sermon this week I came across these words...a compilation of authors, but I think captures this verse beautifully. Read and reflect."Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:21Will he tell them that the Isaiah text is:a) pleasant nostalgia about the past work of God to bring the exiles homeor b) pie in the sky, a far-out promise to be fulfilled by God in

Water into wine....

2010-01-18T05:19:00.003+11:00

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. (John 2:6)I have been reflecting on the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana that is written in John 2:1-11. What captures my interest is not so much the sign of God's power that is revealed in the event, but the stone jars.These 6 stone jars

The 12 Days of Christmas

2009-12-30T11:46:00.001+11:00

OK...now you can celebrate Christmas. Actually you can keep on celebrating until January 6 as part of the 12 Days of Christmas. That's where that song came from. You know the one...4 Mockingbirds, 3 French hens, 2 Turtle Doves...and a partridge in a pear tree...and all those other gifts like maids a milking, and Lords a leaping. I mean the one who received these gifts must have had a big

Back to front...

2009-12-18T12:44:00.003+11:00

One of the difficulties facing Christians, and all people for that matter, is that we no longer celebrate Advent. We are simply too busy getting ready for and celebrating Christmas. Advent was originally a time for reflection...a rethinking...a renewing...that would then result in an enriching of faith as the celebrations of the Christ-child's birth began on Christmas Eve and continued during

In the name of Jesus....come!

2009-09-25T13:16:00.002+10:00

Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples scolded the people. When Jesus noticed this, he was angry and said to his disciples, "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the Kingdom f God belongs to such as these. I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." Then he took the

If you want to be first, you need to be last...

2009-09-18T16:03:00.001+10:00

33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." 36He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his

Are you just hanging around???

2009-08-23T07:18:00.000+10:00

John 6:67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?"It's an honest question...a challenging question...a hard question...both for the one who asks and the one who is being asked. In asking this question Jesus risks rejection. He gives you the opportunity to reject him, his teaching and leave just as he did to his disciples on that day. The question indicates his willingness to be vulnerable,

'Purse' or 'Provider'?

2009-07-23T12:58:00.003+10:00

So they gathered them all up and filled twelve baskets with pieces left over from the five barley loaves which the people had eaten. (John 6:13)As a church we spend a great deal of time worrying and wondering if we will have enough. Enough people. Enough money. Enough resources. We look at our currently situation and allow ourselves to despair. There is work to do and yet it seems that there

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

2009-07-19T06:57:00.002+10:00

So Jesus said to them, "Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone and you can rest a while." Mark 6:31Here are some thoughts taken from the text...particularly verses 30-34 and then verse 55. I have just put down some thoughts in the hope that you will just 'rest' awhile...or to put it more plainly...just sit and think a bit.Mark highlights this rushed and hurried aspect

Is it really just a numbers game???...some thoughts on Mark 6:6-13

2009-07-09T14:08:00.003+10:00

It struck me recently that church life, Christian life, and even evangelism are becoming very much a numbers game. We talk about budgets, attendance and membership numbers, and ages. Or to put it another way...number of dollars...number of people on the lists...number of bums on pews...how young or old those people are. I have been reading, studying, teaching and preaching from Scripture for 30

A little boat trip...

2009-06-18T12:08:00.002+10:00

35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher

Nicodemus

2009-06-05T09:25:00.003+10:00