Year C – Tenth Sunday After Pentecost – Don’t give up

14 August 2022

Back in my youth group days at Box Hill a couple friends of mine decided to visit another friend from our group who was working at Hermannsburg in the Northern Territory. They drove up and when they reached Alice Springs the 2nd of my friends who was the passenger in the car said – this… Read more

Year C – Ninth Sunday After Pentecost – Bigger – not always better

7 August 2022

Bigger is better! Isn’t that what we’re led to believe? Bigger is better. Bigger churches are seen to be more successful. Bigger companies make more profit. Whereas we’d love our churches to be filled to the brim and overflowing we need to ensure we do not throw in the towel because our numbers are not… Read more

Year C – Eighth Sunday After Pentecost – Lord, teach us to share

31 July 2022

Our Gospel reading about hording possessions would have been very appropriate at the beginning of Covid when certain items became in short supply. We saw people rushing out and buying stocks of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and other essentials, more than they would ever need but wanted to feel secure. We were told on many… Read more

Year C – Seventh Sunday After Pentecost – Lord teach us to pray

24 July 2022

When there is a tragedy you often hear people respond to the victim saying our thoughts and prayers are with you. While there’s nothing wrong with that and I’m sure people appreciate the sentiment it’s concerning if that is all that we see prayer as – a sentiment reduced to something like our positive thoughts…. Read more

Year C – Sixth Sunday After Pentecost – Listen to Jesus

17 July 2022

O for the life of Mary. To be able to have the freedom and luxury of sitting at Jesus’ feet free of the busyness of life that has captured Martha. Martha is like so many of our church families. They scramble to keep their family’s heads above financial waters with both parents working, juggling school… Read more

Year C – Fifth Sunday After Pentecost – Go and do likewise

10 July 2022

I’m a fairly practical person and when I have to do something I like to have instructions. So when I’m confronted with a problem or a new situation I like to ask. What do I have to do? I like to follow instructions and I like to follow procedures. Not everyone’s like that. Some are… Read more

Year C – Fourth Sunday After Pentecost – Upholding God

3 July 2022

Have you ever been out somewhere and all of a sudden the topic of conversation changes to religion? Do you hope that no one asks your opinion as you hear the criticism of Christians being hypocrites and it’s just a pack of lies made up by people years ago to control us? Have you felt… Read more

Year C – Third Sunday After Pentecost – Dealing with problem makers

26 June 2022

Last week I began by asking you a question of how do you deal with your problems. The context was the demon possessed man who was deemed too difficult to deal with so they dealt with their problem by putting him in shackles and then sent him off into the tombs to live. Out of… Read more

Year C – Second Sunday After Pentecost – Out of mind out of sight

19 June 2022

How do you deal with your problems? Many people like to sweep them under the carpet – out of sight out of mind. But just because you can’t see the dirt doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s still under the carpet. So too, if we turn off the TV news, stop reading the newspapers and… Read more

Year C – Trinity Sunday – Best left unexplained

12 June 2022

The Holy Trinity is an interesting teaching of the Christian church. The word “Trinity” doesn’t appear in the bible so it has been disputed by many  denominations like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christadelphians. Many of the heresies from the early church were created by well meaning Christians wanting to explain the mystery of One God, three… Read more

Year C – Pentecost – Healing or hurting Words

5 June 2022

There is the old saying that “the pen is mightier than the sword”. Often we associate that saying with harm that can be done through the words we speak or write. A sword can cause physical injury – even death. But that’s the end of it. A person can even heal from the physical injury…. Read more

Year C – Ascension

29 May 2022

Today we celebrate the end to Jesus being with his followers after his resurrection.  In Luke’s Gospel Jesus takes his closest friends to Bethany.  Here Jesus tells them that the time had come for the final stage of reconciling us to God. He commissions them to keep telling all the people about the good news that they… Read more

Year C – Fifth Sunday After Easter – The New Creation

15 May 2022

On Good Friday we focused on the 7 last words of Christ. And one of those 7 words of Christ was – It is finished. It is finished, as we heard, was not a cry of defeat but a cry of completion. Like when you’re working on a jigsaw puzzle and you study and anguish… Read more

Year C – Fourth Sunday After Easter – The Promise Keeping Shepherd

8 May 2022

We are well and truly in election mode with a Federal Election later this month.  And as always in the lead up to any election out comes the cheque book and the book of promises. I think by now we are all well aware that what is promised pre-election is not always what is delivered post-election…. Read more

Year C – Easter Sunday – Passing the message on

17 April 2022

No one expected it  – not one single person. What we celebrate here today was totally outside of the realm of belief of every single disciple even though Jesus had told them over and over again that it would happen, that he would be killed and that on the third day he would be raised from… Read more

Year C – Good Friday – The 7 last words of Jesus

15 April 2022

Father forgive them for they know not what they do. There is a lot going on in the world today that gets our anger to boiling point. Whether it’s the war in the Ukraine, domestic violence, the looting that was going on in flood regions. I’ve mentioned it before that people often will say that… Read more

Year C – Maundy Thursday – From darkness to light

14 April 2022

Maundy Thursday begins our journey through the darkness of Good Friday to the light of Easter Sunday. Maundy Thursday is itself a night of sadness. When we celebrate Holy Communion which was first celebrated on that first Maundy Thursday the words preparing the bread and wine begin with the words – Our Lord Jesus Christ… Read more

Year C – Seventh Sunday After Epiphany

20 February 2022

I believe that one of the most powerful people in the Bible is Joseph – the firstborn son of Jacob and Rachel even though he was the 2nd last son born to Jacob. As a result, Joseph was favoured by Jacob above his siblings because of his love for Rachel. As a result Joseph’s brothers,… Read more

Year C – Sixth Sunday After Epiphany – Not pitied but envied.

13 February 2022

These 2 years of Covid have been extremely difficult and challenging. I remember through the first wave of lockdowns where we were told – 2 weeks to flatten the curve – and we were okay with that. It got extended and we began to see the extent of the impact. Our lives were impacted in… Read more

Year C – Fifth Sunday After Epiphany – A broken spirit renewed by God

6 February 2022

We have an interesting set of readings for today. Usually there is a thread running between them that creates a common theme. On one level that theme is being called to serve God. In our Old Testament it is the calling of Isaiah: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I… Read more

Year C – Fourth Sunday After Epiphany – God’s “unfair” love

30 January 2022

It was supposed to be a homecoming welcome when Jesus arrives at Nazareth, his home town. Local boy makes good. We get very excited and proud when one of our own makes it to the stage. Like when Ash Barty wins a tennis competition. We even don’t mind if Tomic and Kygrios win despite their… Read more

Year C – Third Sunday After Epiphany – Mission Statements

23 January 2022

Mission statements are used by Churches to help them to define who they are. Both of our congregations have a mission statement to which we continue to check ourselves against so we remember who we are. At Ringwood our Mission Statement is “Living the Word – A people formed by God to be his presence… Read more

Christmas Day 2021 – More than just a memory

25 December 2021

I heard a comment recently that BC and AD were going to be redefined from “before Christ” and “Anne Domini” (the year of our Lord) to Before Covid and After Delta. Yes it’s true that history in the immediate term will be forever remembered as a time of lockdowns and restrictions. This pandemic will be… Read more

Christmas Eve 2021 – God’s suffering love

24 December 2021

On that very first Christmas Eve as Mary began her labour pains and was preparing to give birth she discovered that her child was going to be very different. It must have initially surprised Mary, after all, she was told that her baby would be a special baby – in fact he would be God’s… Read more

Year C – Fourth Sunday Of Advent – An unconventional God

19 December 2021

Today’s Gospel is a little different to others in that  it features two women dialoguing with each other and we know both of their names – Mary and Elizabeth.  Usually men are the centre focus in most of the narratives.  Women were important in Jesus’ ministry.  They will be part of Jesus’ traveling community and will be faithful to… Read more

Year C – Third Sunday Of Advent – Joy to the world

12 December 2021

The Third Sunday of Advent is known as “rejoice” Sunday. We know that Advent is a season of waiting and today we are called to be joyful as we await the coming of Jesus Christ. Paul is quite emphatic about it saying: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. In our Old… Read more

Year C – Second Sunday Of Advent – Making a straight path for Jesus.

5 December 2021

The 2nd Sunday of Advent always introduces us to John the Baptist. John is described as a relative of Jesus through his mother Mary and her relative Elizabeth although we’re not sure of exactly what that relationship is. John the Baptist is a very important figure as he appears in all the gospels and each… Read more

Year C – First Sunday Of Advent – God knows.

28 November 2021

Waiting is not my strong point. I would rather take longer to get somewhere without needing to wait in a traffic jam even if the route with the traffic jam would get me there sooner. If I have an appointment I will ask for the first appointment of the day even if I have to… Read more

Year B – Christ the King Sunday – King of the new Kingdom

21 November 2021

Throughout this pandemic and even before with many tragedies our world has faced people have asked – where is God in all this – or – why has God allowed this to happen. When we face personal tragedies such as sickness or death we too may have been led to ask – why? Why if… Read more

Year B – All Saints Day – Kept safe until the Day

14 November 2021

Human beings have always been interested in what we call “End Time” prophecies. People have for centuries checked their horoscopes – have consulted clairvoyants and tinkered in other ways of reaching the afterlife such as Ouija Boards and Tarot cards or even Fortune Cookies. In the Old Testament times people would consult those who claimed… Read more

Year B – Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost – All or nothing

7 November 2021

“It’s all or nothing” is a term often used when you’ve got nothing to lose. You sometimes hear stories of people down on their luck and they use their last few dollars to buy a lottery ticket and win first prize. It’s all or nothing. Or the boxer who is down on points in the… Read more

Year B – Reformation Sunday – No distinctions

31 October 2021

Well here we are with a sense of freedom. Still some restrictions in place but a sense that we are beginning to enjoy some of the freedoms we had with more on the horizon. However we know that there are some in our community who are made to feel as if they are not able… Read more

Year B – Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost – Blind faith

24 October 2021

Our Gospel reading today is interesting, not because of the story of Jesus healing a blind man, but because of what Jesus says to blind Bartimaeus.  Bartimaeus has heard that Jesus has come to town and he knows that Jesus is able to heal him from his blindness. What’s interesting is that as soon as Jesus… Read more

Year B – Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost – Humble glory

17 October 2021

When the 10 disciples heard about James and John’s request to Jesus – “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” They were angry at them. Was it because the other 10 disciples were so humble that they were upset that James and John didn’t understand… Read more

Year B – Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost – Heart surgery

10 October 2021

I find the question put to Jesus today rather strange. A man ran up and knelt before Jesus, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? I find Jesus’ response even stranger that he did not correct him. There is nothing we can do to inherit anything. An inheritance is… Read more

Year B – Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Childlike faith

3 October 2021

Why is it that life gets more complicated as you get older? As a child you really don’t have a lot of things to worry about. Your parents look after you – provide your food – clothe you – give you free accommodation – educate you – protect you – and a whole range more…. Read more

Year B – Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Moving forward

26 September 2021

Someone once commented to me that they were surprised that we don’t see more one eyed, one armed Christians hobbling along on peg legs. I looked at them puzzingly to which they then quoted today’s instruction by Jesus: If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter… Read more

Year B – Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost – Being the best God has made us to be

19 September 2021

Tomorrow night, one AFL player will be crowned the best and fairest player of the year – the highest individual accolade awarded in Australian Rules Football.  Apart from 2017 I could not tell you who has won in previous years – and yet this is the highest award in the game and as you know I… Read more

Year B – Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost – A very heavy Cross

12 September 2021

Children love to hear fairy-tales – I think we can still call them that. Most fairy-tales usually start and end the same way – The beginning – Once upon a time – And the ending – and they lived happily ever after. The story of Jesus is thought by many to also be a human… Read more

Year B – Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Keep praying – it’s your right.

5 September 2021

Whenever I read this Gospel reading it really speaks to me. Not the healing side of it but the geographical reach of Jesus into Tyre and Sidon which were Gentile countries. That region today is known as the region that encompasses Lebanon as does Syrophoenicia. In case you’re not aware, Lebanon is the homeland of… Read more

Year B – Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Following the rules

29 August 2021

When I’m going on my daily walk I see many people with their masks under their noses, under their chin, or no mask at all. I’m sure you’ve seen that too – or maybe while no one is around you have snuck a quick breath of fresh air yourself. Do you sometimes feel like speaking… Read more

Year B – Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Lord to whom shall we go?

22 August 2021

How did you go filling out the census last week? I’m looking forward to hearing the results when they are released  but particularly I want to see the section on religion and what percentage of the population still consider themselves to be Christian. I know we get quite concerned when we hear about the numbers dropping… Read more

Year B – Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost – Singing in the heart

15 August 2021

I’m not sure how you are going at present but I have stopped watching the news on TV and reading the newspaper. For those of you who know me that is a pretty big step.  I usually watch the 5am news in the morning, the 5pm news and then the 6pm news and read the newspaper… Read more

Year B – Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost – It is enough now, O Lord

8 August 2021

Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and thought – wow – that’s exactly what I’m going through – or, that’s exactly how I feel at present. When I read today’s Old Testament reading from 1 Kings about Elijah that’s exactly how I felt. It is enough; now, O Lord. Elijah actually wanted… Read more

Year B – Tenth Sunday After Pentecost – Divided we fall

1 August 2021

Usually in times of adversity human kind rallies together to tackle the issues. Think of our recent responses to things like overseas humanitarian issues – floods, fire, drought, hunger– and our outpouring of help to assist. Or think of previous disasters like September 11 when vigils were held around the world with prayers and candle… Read more

Year B – Ninth Sunday After Pentecost – Do not be afraid – I am God

25 July 2021

Jesus walking on the water – a neat party trick or is there something deeply revealing about this miracle. Firstly we need to understand that Jesus never does anything just for the sake of doing it. We need to look deeply under the surface of this miracle to understand that this wasn’t just a case… Read more

Year B – Eighth Sunday After Pentecost – Breaking down walls

18 July 2021

The great divide happened again this week as NSW Covid cases spiked at the start of the week into triple figures.  The resultant action was to declare red zones and shut down borders so we don’t get infected. This is their problem – we don’t want them here. While that might not be what they are… Read more

Year B – Seventh Sunday After Pentecost – God’s plan before time began

11 July 2021

John the Baptist features prominently during Advent as he prepares the way for Jesus’ arrival at Christmas time. We don’t hear much more about John’s life other than he is soon arrested because of his criticism of the Royal family of King Herod. No doubt John would have felt disillusioned about his predicament. Jesus was… Read more

Year B – Sixth Sunday After Pentecost – Power in weakness

4 July 2021

Have you ever been asked what your favourite Bible passage is? Do you have one? Many choose Psalm 23 – the Lord’s my Shepherd. Many choose John 3:16 – for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but receive eternal… Read more

Year B – Fifth Sunday After Pentecost – Persisting In Hope

27 June 2021

In today’s Gospel, we hear two stories of healing. But they come about in different ways. One is what we call through intercessory prayer. When we pray for someone who is unable to pray for themselves. Jairus’s daughter is ill – on the verge of death and Jairus pleads with Jesus to come and lay… Read more

Year B – Fourth Sunday After Pentecost – Crossing over to the “other side”

20 June 2021

Several years ago there was a celebrity psychic by the name of Jonathon Edward who claimed he could make contact with deceased relatives with messages for their loved ones. He coined the phrase that these deceased relatives had “crossed over” to the other side giving name to his TV Show “Crossing Over”. He believed, as… Read more

Year B – Third Sunday After Pentecost – Is Bigger really Better?

13 June 2021

Bigger is better is how we usually understand things. Go to McDonalds and you’ll be tempted to upsize your meal from small to large. Buy something on TV shopping and they tempt you with a 2nd one free or they’ll add in a heap of accessories. Or go to Costco and everything is jumbo size…. Read more

Year B – Second Sunday After Pentecost – Divided We Fall

6 June 2021

I believe that our Old Testament reading today is one of the most important readings to understanding the human condition and how our world works. It especially speaks to what we are facing here in Victoria, Australia, and no doubt around the world as we try to get on top of this Covid 19 pandemic…. Read more

Year B – Holy Trinity – Protecting God’s Identity

30 May 2021

Identity theft is a growing concern in society today. Every day I receive either a warning of a new scam trying to trick me into handing over my private details or I receive an actual attempt to steal my identity. Maybe you’ve been a victim of someone trying to steal your personal details which has… Read more

Year B – Pentecost Sunday – Groaning with God

23 May 2021

We live in a world that is groaning. We hear it every time we turn on the TV news – every time we pick up the newspaper – every time we hear the hourly news bulletin on the radio. We hear the rising infection rates of the pandemic. We hear the warnings that our world… Read more

Year B – The Ascension – Don’t underestimate the Ascension

16 May 2021

The Ascension of our Lord falls on the 40th day after Jesus’ resurrection. During those 40 days Jesus established eye witnesses who would pass on to future generations proof of his rising from the dead. We don’t hear of any parables or miracles performed by Jesus during those 40 days. They were the purpose of… Read more

Year B – Sixth Sunday Of Easter – Family Privileges

9 May 2021

Blood is thicker than water: It doesn’t matter what you know – it’s who you know that matters. These and other sayings highlight the reality that there are privileges that are often granted to family members. Sometimes that’s a positive thing, especially when it’s continuing a family business. But sometimes it’s not such a positive… Read more

Year B – Fifth Sunday Of Easter – The greatest love of all

2 May 2021

ISM’s and Phobias seem to be dominating our world at present. Racism, sexism, ageism Homophobia – transphobia – Islamophobia Whenever we disagree with something or someone we instantly fall into one of these or one of the many other categories which we may not have had any idea existed or we may be shocked to… Read more

Year B – Good Shepherd Sunday – Sheepish Behaviour

25 April 2021

To be called a sheep is not a very flattering thing. It is a term usually used when referring to a person who doesn’t think for themselves but just blindly follows everyone else. Sadly this is often how people see Christians – as sheep. People who blindly follow a religion without thinking for themselves. People… Read more

Year B – Good Friday

1 April 2021

Today is a day that weighs heavy on the church.  Each year on Good Friday, we hear the account of Jesus’ gruesome death;  Each year we experience those same emotions that accompany Jesus’ death: the anguish and disbelief. We hear the same details – the same bible readings – but each year it seems to fit a… Read more

Year B – Maundy Thursday – 1st April 2021

1 April 2021

A lot of things have changed in the way we do worship in this past 12 months. And Maundy Thursday is no exception. Much in our bible reading tonight would not be allowed under Covid restrictions. First there was the celebration of the very first Holy Communion service together. If we look at artwork depicting… Read more

Year B – Easter Sunday – 4th April 2021

1 April 2021

I will never forget last Easter Sunday. There were just 4 of us at Ringwood for that day. We had our organist playing the organ instead of recorded music. We had a member providing real flowers and reading the bible readings. And we had a third person who doubled up filming and reading the prayers  And… Read more

Year B – Fifth Sunday In Lent – Suffering’s hidden mystery

21 March 2021

With the AFL football season starting this week there is a sense of privilege for those who were fortunate enough to have had a ticket to watch their team play. For 2 of the biggest clubs in the AFL, Richmond and Carlton, getting a ticket was never going to be easy. The game usually attracts… Read more

Year B – Fourth Sunday In Lent – God’s Masterpieces

14 March 2021

I don’t consider myself a cultured person at all. Let me just unpack that. I don’t look at artwork and see the nuances and expression of the artist and what message he or she is trying to convey in their pieces of art. I don’t meditate listening to classical music and get lost in the… Read more

Year B – Third Sunday In Lent – The true church

7 March 2021

The Ten Commandments play a foundational role not just in the life of Christians but in society also. But it depends from which angle you look at them as to whether you truly appreciate them or not. From one angle they might appear restrictive. You know how it goes – Christians are party poopers and… Read more

Year B – Second Sunday In Lent – Human responses to divine plans

28 February 2021

Peter sometimes gets a bit of an unwarranted criticism throughout his time with Jesus. Yes he didn’t always get things right – but isn’t that human nature? Do we always get things right? There is the time he took his eyes of Jesus and sank while walking on water. There is the time he draws… Read more

Year B – First Sunday in Lent – Ministering Angels in the Wilderness

17 February 2021

Wasn’t that quick? We woke up Friday morning to discover that we were back into lockdown for the 3rd time. We thought everything was going okay. We had hit zero cases – or as people call them – donuts – for something like 4 weeks in a row – twice. The Australian Open had started… Read more

Year B – Ash Wednesday

17 February 2021

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return are words we would normally hear after the sermon on Ash Wednesday as you receive a sign of the cross from ashes on your forehead. But because of Covid restrictions and lockdown we will not be able to offer this this year. They are… Read more

Year B – Transfiguration Sunday – The Life-Force of God

14 February 2021

When we read the book of Genesis, one of the most well-known acts of God’s creation is the first act when God says – “Let there be light”. Like many others I always thought this to mean the creation of light to break the darkness in the sense of when I wake in the morning… Read more

Year B – Fifth Sunday after Epiphany – God’s healing proclamation

7 February 2021

As the restrictions for the pandemic ease around us it’s really hard to know the difference between what can and can’t we do as opposed to what should or shouldn’t we do. One of the trickiest for me as a Pastor is should or shouldn’t I shake your hand – and I’ve had a couple… Read more

Year B – 4th Sunday after Epiphany – Head to heart knowledge

31 January 2021

Marks’s Gospel is an interesting account of the life of Jesus. It doesn’t have the sweet recording of Jesus birth – shepherds, manger, wise men coming to visit. No, here we are in chapter one of Mark and he’s in a synagogue confronted by an evil spirit. And what’s interesting is that this unclean spirit… Read more

Year B – Epiphany 3 – The Good News of repentance

24 January 2021

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night to a house or car alarm going off? What’s your first response? If it’s like mine, it’s usually not – I hope everything is okay. No it’s normally annoyance – seriously, don’t they know what time it is. Last week we heard an alarm… Read more

Year B – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany – Come and see Jesus

13 January 2021

This is my first week back for 2021 so firstly I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. In my break I have tried to contemplate what will 2021 look like. We are already hearing about a new strain of Covid that has entered Australia from overseas. We’ve seen restrictions tightened in… Read more

Year B – Christmas Day

24 December 2020

There have been many emotions throughout this Covid year – anger, uncertainty, confusion – but high up there, perhaps at the top, was and still is – fear. Fear of a 2nd wave – which did happen. Fear of a 3rd wave – we watch those daily numbers from the DHHS and breathe a sigh… Read more

Year B- Christmas Eve

24 December 2020

There are 2 major celebrations in the Church – Christmas and Easter. Last Easter none of us would have thought that we could not have had an Easter Service – Good Friday or Easter Sunday. As the pandemic progressed and hit a second wave in the 2nd half of the year there were warnings that… Read more

Year B – 4th Sunday in Advent – God knows better

17 December 2020

Even though much of the bible is what we call Patriarchal – that is heavily written from a male perspective where many women remain unnamed – Jairus’s daughter – Jephtha’s daughter – the woman at the well – the bleeding woman who touched Jesus’ cloak – just to mention a few. But here we have… Read more

Year B – Advent 3 – Reflecting the true light

10 December 2020

I was interested in reading last week that China landed a rocket on the moon and obtained some samples from the moon’s surface. I am always fascinated by moon travel and expeditions to other planets. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said that the worst thing humankind ever did was land a man on the moon. Now,… Read more

Year B -2nd Sunday in Advent – Same story – different challenges

6 December 2020

One of the challenges during Advent and Christmas is hearing the familiar story we all know.  Not that there’s anything wrong with the story but sometimes we sort of switch off – we’ve heard it all before – tell us something new. We all know the story. We’ve all seen the Christmas pageants and know… Read more

Year B – 1st Sunday in Advent – Worth the wait

25 November 2020

Jesus says today – “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near”. Jesus obviously has never been to Melbourne. Here we are 2 days out from Summer and I have no idea whether I’m going to have the… Read more

Year A – Last Sunday of Church Year – An unexpected reward

22 November 2020

Today we celebrate the last Sunday of the church year. Next week we begin our Advent celebrations to prepare for Christmas where we welcome Jesus coming to this earth as an infant. So once again our bible readings are focusing on Jesus return to earth – but not as an infant but in his glory… Read more

Year A-24th Sunday after Pentecost – A Trusting Relationship

15 November 2020

I sort of feel a bit sorry for the 3rd person in Jesus’ parable today. It seemed that his intentions were honourable.  He thought he was doing the right thing. He thought the task that he was given was to protect his master’s possessions. So he protected it by hiding away from everyone else. Like… Read more

Year A – 23rd Sunday after Pentecost – A missed opportunity

8 November 2020

I went to the store last week to purchase something and in big letters – CASH NOT ACCEPTED – must pay by card. I never thought I would see the day when cash was not welcome. Some years ago The Good Guys store would have the slogan – less for cash. And there was always… Read more

Year A – All Saints Day – Worship in eternity

1 November 2020

Today we commemorate All Saints Day. A day when we acknowledge to God our thanks for the life that he gives and for the life that he gathers into his presence.  It’s hard to know what term to use. Some people don’t like the term death or dying because it’s so harsh. Others don’t like the… Read more

Year A – Reformation Sunday – Freedom

25 October 2020

I’m sure many of us were glued to our TV screens last Sunday and scouring the news to see the list of freedoms that we were granted as we slowly began our relief from stage 4 lockdown. For many it was the freedom they were looking for – but for others it still seems as… Read more

Year A – 20th Sunday after Pentecost – The Image of God

18 October 2020

As we get further and further into this period of lockdown and closed churches, I keep thinking of the incident in Acts 5 where the Apostle Peter was ordered by the governing rulers to stop preaching the Gospel. In response Peter says – “We must obey God rather than human beings! And he goes on… Read more

Year A – 19th Sunday after Pentecost – Accepting God’s invitation

11 October 2020

During this period of Covid restrictions the challenges of invitation has been at the forefront. I’ve done a wedding, a baptism and 7 funerals – and all of them faced challenges of limited invitations. Funerals limited to 10, weddings 5, although fortunately the wedding I took were allowed to have 10 as it was still… Read more

Year A – 18th Sunday after Pentecost – Holding up a mirror

4 October 2020

One of the things I enjoy about the Pentecost Season in the church is that we spend a lot of time listening to Jesus’ parables. Parables are a special way that Jesus teaches the people listening to him. Some are hard to unravel. Some make you squirm as you realise that he is speaking directly… Read more

Year A – 17th Sunday after Pentecost –

27 September 2020

How are you feeling after 8 weeks of stage 4 lockdowns? How are you feeling after 6 months of restrictions on what some call basic human liberties and rights? Do you feel like fighting back? Do you feel like sometimes joining the protesters and fighting the system? Can you imagine how many times Jesus was… Read more

Year A – 16th Sunday after Pentecost – A generous God

20 September 2020

Have you ever had that stumper of a question put to you? How can a loving God send people to Hell? How can a loving God send people to Hell? What I find interesting in today’s readings – especially our Old Testament and Gospel reading is a different question. The question – how can a… Read more

Year A – 15th Sunday after Pentecost – A Second Chance

13 September 2020

For some weeks now the questions have been asked. Whose fault is it that we are still in lockdown while the rest of the country has opened up? Whose fault is it that our churches are still closed? We want names – we want jobs – we want someone held accountable. That’s how it goes,… Read more

Year A – 14th Sunday after Pentecost – Peace through reconciliation

6 September 2020

Today’s Gospel reading has probably the most important teaching of Jesus or anyone in the Bible. And the reason it is so important is that it goes to the heart of our relationship with God. It goes to the heart of the greatest commandment  – to love God with all our heart and to love our… Read more

Year A – 13th Sunday after Pentecost – A Matter of Perspective

30 August 2020

  We have to admit that this Corona Virus pandemic has taken us completely by surprise. It has turned our lives upside down. Have you noticed the different reactions people have to it? There is fear. There is denial.  Some are quick to point the finger of blame. Others say defiantly, “We can beat this… Read more

Year A – 12th Sunday after Pentecost – The Jesus’ Quiz

23 August 2020

Our family enjoys doing the Herald Sun quiz during dinner. It feels really good when you get the answer right – but even better when no one else knows the answer and you get that smirk on your face and proudly say – I know the answer. I wonder if Peter, today, had that same… Read more

Year A – – 11th Sunday after Pentecost – Irrevocable promises of God

16 August 2020

In the past week I have been reflecting quite deeply about last week’s Gospel reading. If you recall it was the account of the disciples being in a boat that was being tossed about by the wind and the waves when a ferocious storm hit them.  They were fearing for their lives when a mysterious figure… Read more

Year A – 10th Sunday after Pentecost – Getting to the other side

9 August 2020

Fresh from their miraculous feeding of the 5,000, the disciples are about to encounter another miracle of Jesus but this one will be like none other. Jesus has decided to stay behind for some quiet meditative time in prayer while he sends the disciples of in a boat to sail to the other side of… Read more

Year A – 9th Sunday after Pentecost – God’s compassion

2 August 2020

Our bible reading from Paul today shows just how much sacrifice love is prepared to make. Paul, known as Saul before his conversion, was a leading Pharisee before he met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus to arrest Christians. He stood in approval at the killing of Stephen, considered to be the first Christian… Read more

Year A – 8th Sunday after Pentecost – The Kingdom of Heaven

26 July 2020

Jesus tells 5 small parables today to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. They each complement each other and also describe a different aspect of God’s Kingdom which we’re going to explore today. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed – the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is… Read more

Year A – 7th Sunday after Pentecost – The time of suffering is short

19 July 2020

When the pandemic first caused our lockdowns in late March we gathered our strength and knew that soon in the future that this pandemic would all be in the past and we would begin to recover physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and economically. When the restrictions began to ease and we could again have church services… Read more

Year A – 6th Sunday after Pentecost – Sowing God’s seed of love

12 July 2020

I’m not a gardener – I can barely gather the motivation to drag out the lawn mower and mow the grass. I look with envy those who live in apartment blocks and don’t have to worry about how long the grass is growing or how many weeds there are. Sometimes I feel a little guilty… Read more

Year A – 5th Sunday after Pentecost – Saint and Sinner inner struggle

5 July 2020

I love this passage by Paul today. It’s among my favourites because Paul really does sum up the Christian struggle and what it’s like. Many people I know feel guilt over their Christian life because of their inability to overcome temptation and a sense that they should have been able to feel better about their… Read more

Year A – 4th Sunday after Pentecost – Extending our welcome

26 June 2020

The comment has been made by several Pastors during the COVID 19 lockdowns that coming out of lockdown is much harder than going into lockdown. And it’s true from what I have experienced. Going into lockdown was as simple as shutting the doors and letting members know that until further notice that our church services… Read more

Year A – Third Sunday After Pentecost – Physical and Spiritual Fear

21 June 2020

Our last service in this church was 22nd March – 3 months ago. It was the 2nd last Sunday of Lent just before Palm Sunday which celebrates the triumphal entry of Jesus. I like to think that today is our Triumphal Entry even though not all our members have returned because of continued restrictions. But… Read more

Year A – 2nd Sunday after Pentecost – Saved by grace

14 June 2020

Today begins our Pentecost season. Even though we celebrated Pentecost Sunday a couple weeks ago this is now what we refer to as the Pentecost “Season”. The Pentecost Season is considered to be the growing or teaching season of the church – and hence the paraments have been changed to green this week. Green representing… Read more

Year A – Trinity Sunday – Our identity

7 June 2020

I love Christmas – I love Advent – I love Lent – I love Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. They are high points of celebration in our church. But for some reason, Trinity Sunday is the Sunday that I just love to celebrate. I’m not quite sure what it is but I guess it’s because Trinity… Read more

Year A – Pentecost – Life through the Holy Spirit

31 May 2020

It seems strange to have today’s Gospel reading. I say that because we also had this Gospel reading – a shortened version of it – the first Sunday after Easter. It was then when we were into our 3rd week of lockdown and isolation and I made the comment how we were somewhat like Jesus’… Read more

Year A – Ascension Sunday – Ascended, not gone.

24 May 2020

There seemed to be a feel of jubilation this week when I spoke with people. The first of the lockdown restrictions were eased which allowed family members to once again visit. With many mothers unable to see their children and grandchildren on Mother’s Day it was a feeling of joy when our Premier announced we… Read more

Year A – 6th Sunday of Easter – The Known God

17 May 2020

Have you ever had that situation where you come across someone you should know? You’re 100% sure you’ve met them before but you can’t remember their name. When that happens to me I start to run through the alphabet in my head and attribute names to the letter to see if that works – 9… Read more

Year A – 5th Sunday of Easter – Trusting in Lord Jesus – The “I AM”

8 May 2020

Last Sunday Jesus made a bold statement about himself saying – I am the Gate for the sheep. Today he is making another bold statement about himself saying – I am the way, the truth and the life. Why do I say that they are bold statements? It’s because Jesus was using a phrase that… Read more

Year A – 4th Sunday of Easter – Our gated community

3 May 2020

We are now in week 5 of our isolation away from our Sunday Church services. Despite our sadness at not being able to worship together it’s been very encouraging that despite our lockdowns that we are continuing to put a high priority on our Christian faith. I realise that because of all the people who… Read more

Year A – 3rd Sunday of Easter – What our eyes don’t see.

26 April 2020

Three words in our Gospel reading today reflect so much of our society. Three words that sound so sad they make you want to cry. We had hoped. Three words with so much anguish – We had hoped. 2 disciples are on the road to a town called Emmaus. They are saddened. Now even though… Read more

Year A – 2nd Sunday of Easter – God is in control – even if you don’t see it.

19 April 2020

Over the Easter period I spoke at length about the effects of the Pandemic and its effects on us particularly the isolation that has been placed on us as we quarantine ourselves to try and stop the spread. So I thought I would perhaps focus on something else. But when I read the Gospel reading… Read more

Year A – Easter Sunday – Fear and Joy

12 April 2020

If we could sum up the feeling of the world at present I believe the word “fear” best sums up how people are feeling. Fear of catching COVID-19 Fear of the economic cost Fear of keeping my job. Fear of how long this is going to go on for. Fear of inadvertently breaking the rules… Read more

Year A – Good Friday – The 7 last words of Jesus

10 April 2020

Father forgive them for they know not what they do. I was watching a special on TV last week about the Coronavirus and the presenter said – let’s get the world through this pandemic and as soon as we’ve beaten it we’ll find out who is responsible and make them pay for it. Is that… Read more

Year A – Maundy Thursday

9 April 2020

I wonder how Jesus would have coped under today’s restrictions. Washing his disciples’ feet. Gathered together – 13 of them – sitting close together. Passing around a common cup for Holy Communion. Breaking bread and passing it on to one another. They dipped their hands together into a bowl. Even Judas would betray Jesus with… Read more

Year A – Palm Sunday – Built on the rock

5 April 2020

Hasn’t life changed? If we go back just a couple months ago life was never better. I had just arrived back from my 2 week cruise and excited that we had rebooked our next cruise. Coffee shops and wine bars were filled with people celebrating life with not a problem in the world. But then… Read more

Year A – 5th Sunday in Lent – The world’s worst brings out God’s best

29 March 2020

Lazarus is one of the best known stories in the Bible. Even those who are not familiar with him know something about the story. That Lazarus died and rose from the dead. But that is not the extent of what Jesus is trying to teach us. Do you remember the account of Jesus healing the… Read more

Year A – 4th Sunday in Lent – The Lord is my Shepherd – I shall not want

22 March 2020

So how are you coping with all that’s going on? Have you started to panic wondering if you have enough food? Do you panic when you arrive at the supermarket and see all the empty shelves? Did you ever think that this could happen in Australia? Someone said to me during the week, the bushfires… Read more

Year A-3rd Sunday in Lent – Relational Evangelism

15 March 2020

Last Sunday we heard Jesus teaching Nicodemus a lesson on God’s love. It ended with the well-known text – John 3:16 – God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. That was a teaching about God’s… Read more

Year A – 2nd Sunday in Lent – Do not fear

8 March 2020

Today’s Gospel reading introduces a character who doesn’t seem to appear much in the bible but is an important person to understand. John tells us that Nicodemus is a Pharisee, a leader among the Jews. But unlike the other Pharisees and leaders he actually supports Jesus. But because he supports Jesus he has to come… Read more

Year A – Midweek Lenten Address – Theme: The Bending Low of the Son of God

4 March 2020

“Sticks and stone may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” Do you remember that saying? I asked my year 10 students if they had heard it before, and most hadn’t. Apparently, it’s no longer a part of the collective memory of our culture. Which is probably just as well, because we all… Read more

Year A – 1st Sunday in Lent – Resisting temptation

1 March 2020

On our recent cruise we had a magician to entertain us. Before the show he came up to me and asked if I would mind if he called me up on stage. Having got to the show over an hour before it started and sitting 3 rows from the front I think he knew that… Read more

Year A – Ash Wednesday – His blood be on us

26 February 2020

Having just returned home from a cruise on the Princess cruise ship I have been watching with great interest and also relief what is happening in China with the Coronavirus and the passengers stuck on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. When cruising there is great emphasis on hygiene to prevent spreading of disease particular gastric… Read more

Year A – The Transfiguration – Listen to him

23 February 2020

Having recently returned home from a cruise in January I can’t help feeling for the 4000 people who were quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. The rooms are extraordinarily small – much smaller than a motel room. The expectation of a cruise is that you’ll spend most of your time on deck… Read more

Year A – 6th Sunday after Epiphany – Reconcilable differences

16 February 2020

There are some tough teachings in the Bible but none would be as challenging as the one Jesus has placed before us today. Jesus says: if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; Anger is all around us these days. There seems to be so much to get… Read more

Year A – 5th Sunday after Epiphany – Salting the earth

9 February 2020

Do you ever get frustrated when you buy fresh produce from the supermarket and in a couple days it’s already looking like it’s ready to be thrown out? Bananas, for us, is a big one. They look nice and yellow and firm in the supermarket so you buy a bunch of them and then, not… Read more

Year A – 4th Sunday after Epiphany – Simply blessed

2 February 2020

Sometimes the solution to a problem is so simple that we often overlook it because, it can’t be that simple. In fact a Franciscan monk, William of Occam from the 13th Century stated that the simplest solution is most likely the right one. It became known as Occam’s Razor where all the non-essential parts were… Read more

Year A – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany – New beginnings (Lay Reading)

26 January 2020

Today is January 26th and we are just over three weeks into 2020. Did you make any resolutions this year? If you did, how are they holding up? New Year’s resolutions can be big or small. Do any of these sound familiar? This year, I will eat less, drink less, exercise more. This year, I… Read more

Year A – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany – Receiving the call from Jesus (Lay Reading)

19 January 2020

Today’s theme that can be found in all four of our readings is the theme of being called. The readings from Isaiah and from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians both begin with words about being called, about being set apart by God. Isaiah says: The Lord called me before I was born, while I… Read more

Year A – The Baptism of Jesus – The First Step (Lay Reading)

12 January 2020

We don’t think about it much, but for most of us, one thing that brings us to church on Sunday is the fact that we are baptized. Some of us were baptized without being given any choice in the matter. Despite the seeming cries of disapproval at the baptismal font that we sometimes hear the… Read more

Year A – The Epiphany – God’s Epiphany Mission to the Nations

5 January 2020

You often hear about difficulties growing up as a middle child. As a middle child myself I can affirm that at times it wasn’t easy. When my older brother bullied me and I complained, my parents said to not be so sensitive and to get on with my brother. When I used to get into… Read more

Year A – 1st Sunday after Christmas – God’s gift of love (don’t waste it)

29 December 2019

The gifts have been received and opened; The recycling bin is filled with gift wrapping that once made an ordinary gift seem extra special. Our family and friends have come and returned home. All that is to come as a reminder of Christmas is the Credit Card statement. Soon we will start counting down again… Read more

Christmas Day Sermon 2019 – Truth is God’s true power.

24 December 2019

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. What I found is special about Christmas is that everything God said would happen happened. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them…. Read more

Christmas Eve 2019– Christmas removing fear

24 December 2019

Even though I have heard the Christmas story many many times, as I’m sure you have – I do wonder what it would be like to have heard it for the very first time – or in fact have lived in the very first Christmas. If you’ve ever arrived at a motel and find that… Read more

Year A – Advent 4 – What on earth were you thinking God?

22 December 2019

Do you ever question God and what he’s doing in your life? What are you doing God? Sometimes it’s really hard to understand why God does things the way he does. It’s interesting as you reflect back on your life and things that you didn’t understand then have somehow contributed to the way your life… Read more

Year A – Advent 3 – Jesus is the one we are waiting for

15 December 2019

In the lead up to an election we hear lots of promises about what this leader will do for us if we elect them. And more often than not when the elected party forms Government we will hear reasons why they can’t immediately fulfil their promises. One previous Prime Minister from some years ago made… Read more

Year A- Advent 2 – Wilderness spirituality

8 December 2019

John the Baptist is always an interesting character. It’s easy to focus just on the message that he came to proclaim – Repent. But there’s more to John the Baptist other than his sharp tongue that will soon get him arrested and put to death. There is more to John the Baptist than his clothing… Read more

Year A – 1st Sunday in Advent – It’s getting close now.

1 December 2019

Having turned 60 a few weeks ago I got asked quite regularly – “how do you feel”? Do you feel older? And I reply by saying – truth be told, I don’t feel any different today than I felt yesterday. And when I think of it, yesterday I didn’t feel any different to the day… Read more

Year C – Christ the King – Last Sunday of the Church Year – Fully human, fully divine, fully saved

24 November 2019

The church’s teaching about Jesus is that he is fully human and fully God. He is not half human and half God. So, mathematically it doesn’t add up as he is 100% human and 100% God – at the same time. Throughout his life in the bible we see examples of both his humanity and… Read more

Year C 23rd Sunday After Pentecost – Better than Fig Leaves

15 November 2019

It would be fair to say that most people believe that we live in uncertain times. Whether it be through financial insecurity, unemployment, fears of a recession. Even the housing market which has always been a safe investment in bricks and mortar is quite unstable. And in these days it’s not just the financial aspects… Read more

Year C All Saints Day – Life, but not as we know it.

10 November 2019

  Today we acknowledge All Saints Day and a day of remembrance for those who have given of their lives to defend our nation. It is a day when we give thanks to God for their lives but even more than that we give thanks for the hope of the resurrection which enables us to… Read more

Year C – Reformation Sunday

25 October 2019

Ask anyone to describe “the church” and you’ll get a variety of answers. But, no doubt, top of the list would be – those do-gooders who keep telling us how bad we are – those “righteous know it all” who are living in the past and complain every time we try to move into the… Read more

Year C – 19th Sunday after Pentecost – Persistent in prayer

20 October 2019

Last week saw a week of disruptions in the city, including other states around Australia, and in fact around the world to demand what they call “climate justice”. Despite the disruptions that it caused to many people going to work or going home from work we are a society that respects people’s right to protest… Read more

Year C – Sunday after Pentecost – Unity through suffering

13 October 2019

Border Security is a major political divide in many countries. Whether it’s the wall being built on the border of the USA and Mexico – or the sending of those deemed to be “illegal immigrants to detention centres or being deported. We have even had disputes with our near neighbour New Zealand over the sending… Read more

Year C – 17th Sunday after Pentecost – Increase our faith?

5 October 2019

It’s an interesting request from the apostles to Jesus today – Increase our faith. I wonder why they made that request. Were they having doubts? Were they going through some sort of crisis? I know I’ve heard well-meaning Christians tell a sick person that if they had enough faith that God would heal them. How… Read more

Creation Sunday- God’s gift through pets

5 October 2019

There is an old saying that says – Dog spelt backwards is still man’s best friend. Often a person will get asked – are you a dog person or a cat person. Because they are different. In fact it is often said – you own a dog but a cat owns you. They have different… Read more

Year C-16th Sunday after Pentecost-Reversal of Fortunes

29 September 2019

Earlier this year I was sitting in Swan Street Richmond waiting for a friend on our way to watch the football. While I was waiting a young man came up to me with a collection tin and asked if I would like to donate some money. There was no organisation on the tin – he… Read more

Year C 15th Sunday after Pentecost – One mediator

22 September 2019

I listened to an interview with Australian swimmer Susie O’Niell. She was affectionately known as Madam Butterfly as she dominated the pool with her butterfly swim style. Leading up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics she was the champion of the 200m butterfly. She held the world record and was about to swim in front of… Read more

Year C: 14th Sunday after Pentecost – Lost and found

15 September 2019

I read an interesting article a while ago about parents who forget their child in the back seat of their car and go off shopping or come home and forget their child is still in the car. As we know that can have tragic consequences particularly in summer. I was staggered when it was suggested… Read more

Year C 13th Sunday after Pentecost – Moulded by God

8 September 2019

With Father’s Day last week no doubt many fathers received home-made gifts from their children. Whether it was macaroni glued to paper with some sparkles on it or maybe something a little bit more complex – no father goes through and analyses it to point out errors. You didn’t spell Father correctly – your drawing… Read more

Year C 12th Sunday after Pentecost – The best seat in the house

1 September 2019

We probably don’t realise how much status is held by seating. The AFL finals begin this week and already there has been outrage over seating. Geelong wants a home final but their ground doesn’t seat enough to cater for the huge crowds. The Gabba in Queensland holds 42,000 and there are 3 times that amount… Read more

Year C 11th Sunday after Pentecost – 6570 days of suffering

25 August 2019

6570 days. That’s how many days the woman in our Gospel reading had been afflicted by her condition. For 6570 days this woman could not stand up straight but was stooped over. 6570 days of suffering with no indication life would ever be different for her. Would it have made any difference to the woman… Read more

Year C 9th Sunday after Pentecost – Faith in the unseen

11 August 2019

The book of Hebrews is an interesting book in the New Testament. It is masterly written but we don’t know who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews. Initial thoughts were that it might have been Paul but scholars believe this was so it would get into the New Testament. It seems to be written to… Read more

Year C- 8th Sunday after Pentecost – Using our abundance

4 August 2019

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce stirred up the media this week when he said that he was struggling financially to support his families even though he earns well over $200,000 per year. You can imagine there was not much support or sympathy for him. In explaining himself he said that what he was trying to say… Read more

Year C-7th Sunday after Pentecost – Lord, teach us to pray.

28 July 2019

In our Gospel reading today we have Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer which Jesus gave to his disciples to teach them how to pray. It’s a little bit different to Matthew’s version which is a fuller account and which we have come to know as we pray the Lord’s Prayer. I thought perhaps we… Read more

YEar C – 6th Sunday after Pentecost – Sibling rivalry

21 July 2019

Sibling rivalry. Is this what we are seeing in our Gospel reading between Mary and Martha or is it something deeper? Jesus has come to the home of Mary and Martha and both sisters see a different emphasis of what needs to happen. It reminds me of a similar situation which involved Mary in John’s… Read more

Year C- 5th Sunday after Pentecost – Go and do likewise

14 July 2019

There are some fairly tough parts in the bible but for me there is none tougher than today’s Gospel reading when Jesus says – “Go and do likewise”. It reminds me of the old saying – “do as I say not as I do”. It’s so easy to know what the right thing is to… Read more

Year C-4th Sunday after Pentecost-The harvest is plentiful – but so is rejection

4 July 2019

I have to admit that I struggle a bit with our Gospel reading in trying to understand it. Jesus says to the 72 disciples that he is sending out – “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; The way that many in the church are feeling today is that the harvest is getting… Read more

Year C-3rd Sunday after Pentecost-Following Jesus, at what cost?

30 June 2019

Have you ever signed up for something and it’s turned out to be something different to what you expected? Or have you ever committed yourself to something and not realised just how much effort it was going to be? Did you know that nearly two billion dollars a year on gym memberships is wasted in… Read more

Year C-Pentecost 2nd Sunday after Pentecost-Strength for Ministry in silence

21 June 2019

Have you ever woken up in the morning and thought – I just want to go back to sleep. Do I have to get up? As we move into the depths of winter it is very easy to feel that way. And as the nights get dark and cold if you’re on a committee it’s… Read more

Year C-Trinity Sunday-Persevering in suffering

14 June 2019

Last Monday we celebrated the Queen’s Birthday and along with it came the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Among them, as usual, was a list of sporting and entertainment celebrities. Along with the naming of the award recipients came the usual criticisms of why ordinary Australians who give of their lives are not rewarded. They actually are… Read more

Year C – Pentecost Sunday – Your legal advocate

7 June 2019

A few years ago I was thinking to myself that maybe it’s time I thought about having a will prepared. For a long time I kept hearing that it’s never too early to start thinking of things like wills and powers of attorney. But I thought to myself I might try and do it on… Read more

Year C Ascension – Our Jerusalem

2 June 2019

Today we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. For 40 days after Jesus rose from the grave on Easter Sunday he walked the earth to establish eye witnesses so the world would be convinced that the resurrection was a real event and not a fairy tale as it is often described in our secular… Read more

Year C Easter 6 – Spiritual disruptions

26 May 2019

While travelling along the freeway recently I found myself in the wrong lane. I saw my exit getting closer and closer. I just needed someone to realise I had my blinker on and slow down to let me in. It was just there but I couldn’t get a break to let me in. And at… Read more

Year C 5th Sunday of Easter-Do not hinder God

17 May 2019

With all the scandals in the church these days why are you still coming to church? With all the negative press about Christians these days why are you still a Christian? With all the other things you could be doing with your time and money why do you come to church? With all the scientific… Read more

Year C Easter 4 -More than a number

10 May 2019

I was watching a TV show the other night and a person when about to die says – “well, I guess my number is up”.  How often are you identified with a number?  At the bank you have account numbers, PIN numbers and credit card numbers with expiry dates and security number on the back… Read more

Year C Easter 3 – When you least expect it, expect it

5 May 2019

When you least expect it, expect it. It’s a saying that inspires hope into a hopeless situation. When you least expect it, expect it. It’s a saying that inspires us to never give up hope. For Christians it has often seen God acting in his timing rather than ours. Like Abraham and Sarah. Promised a… Read more

Year C Easter 2-Obeying God’s authority rather than human authority

28 April 2019

The sporting world has been divided in recent times regarding the punishment dished out on Rugby League player Israel Folau. In case you missed it, Folau posted a quote from the bible that offended some people because he said unless they repented of their sin that they would end up in hell. Irrespective of whether… Read more

Sermon Easter Sunday – Who believes this nonsense? (Main Service 9am)

21 April 2019

Before I have my tea at night I like to watch the News headlines to see what’s been happening in the world. If I’m home in time I like to watch the Channel 10 news. But because I don’t like to miss the start of the news as I turn it on a couple minutes… Read more

Yeac C Easter – Believing is seeing (Easter Sunrise Service)

21 April 2019

Seeing is believing – or is it Believing is seeing. In this case at the tomb of Jesus it is definitely Believing is Seeing. Mary has come to the tomb to prepare Jesus’ body for proper burial. She arrives and doesn’t “see” Jesus body so she doesn’t know what to believe has happened. Seeing doesn’t… Read more

Year C Good Friday – Our empathetic Saviour

19 April 2019

When tragedy strikes it’s interesting to see the different responses from our leaders. When the terrorist attack happened in Christchurch last month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern came out with obvious grief and hurt in her voice and demeanour. It was similar some years back during the Queensland floods when the Premier at the time, Anna… Read more

Year C Maundy Thursday – Loving by example

18 April 2019

Children are really good at watching their parents and imitating them. So as parents we always need to be careful about what we say and do around young impressionable children so we teach them right. When you see a child misbehave or use swear words in public you actually look at the parents and blame… Read more

Ephiphany 7

24 February 2019

People in society today like to do things that make them stand out in the crowd. They might do it by the clothes they wear. They might do it by the hairstyle they wear. A lot of people in recent times have done it by having tattoos or piercings. Many do it because they want… Read more

Year C Epiphany 5

10 February 2019

I’m not sure how you feel about it – and maybe it’s just my age showing – but I get really annoyed when I hear our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, referred to as ScoMo. To me it seems like a lack of respect for the office he carries. Even when he is being interviewed and… Read more

Year C – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany – God the gift giver

20 January 2019

Well Christmas is well and truly over both officially and unofficially. It was over officially 2 weeks ago on Epiphany Sunday – the 12th day of Christmas. But I suspect that for many people Christmas was well and truly over unofficially on Boxing Day, the 2nd Day of Christmas. Christmas seems to be a time… Read more

Year C – First Sunday in Advent – True Hope

2 December 2018

Hope is a funny word. It’s one of those words that depending on the context it could mean the opposite of what was intended. Like the VCE student who “hopes” to get a good result in their exams – there is a degree of uncertainty not knowing what the result is going to be. Or… Read more

A God who “is”

25 November 2018

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. This is a very powerful statement by Jesus exercising his complete authority in the world. And Jesus always speaks in such definitive words. I am THE Alpha and THE Omega (the first… Read more

Year B 26th Sunday after Pentecost – The Day is approaching

18 November 2018

The last census revealed what we all knew without the numbers being officially collected. The numbers in church are declining. We didn’t need to see what people responded in the census we just needed to look around us and see the numbers that used to be here just aren’t here anymore. There are a variety… Read more

No line in the sand

9 September 2018

Once again Melbourne is gripped in racial tensions after a violent brawl in Collingwood in the early hours of last week.  The racial profiling identified the main perpetrators as African and Islanders.  It comes on the back of another wild brawl a few weeks earlier in Taylors Hill with similar racial profiling.  The Letters to… Read more

7th Sunday after Pentecost– Healing despite suffering (year B)

8 July 2018

Last Sunday Channel 7 aired a program featuring a Melbourne man Charlie Goldsmith.   Charlie claims to have the gift of healing that he has been using for over 18 years which he kept very private.   It wasn’t until after his first hospital study, completed in 2013 by doctors, interestingly, at the New York University Lutheran… Read more

Pentecost 6 – The Ministry of Interruptions (Year B)

1 July 2018

You know the drill.  It’s 6pm – you’re busy starting dinner or perhaps you’ve just sat down to dinner and the phone rings. Should I answer it or let it go through to the answering machine? What if it’s an emergency? So you get up – there’s a pause – a couple clicks – and… Read more

5th Sunday after Pentecost-Safe passage through the storm (Year B )

24 June 2018

The nation was shocked last week at the brutal attack and death of a young Melbourne comedian walking through a park in Carlton on her way home from the city.  The nation was shocked she was just 900 metres from home. But whether she was 900 metres or 900 feet from home the tragic circumstances… Read more

4th Sunday after Pentecost-Sown in darkness (Year B)

17 June 2018

Every day I do things that I have no idea how they work.  I have no idea how my car works; I just put my key in the ignition and turn it on.  Put it in to gear – press the accelerator to speed up and press the brake to slow down.  I have no… Read more

3rd Sunday after Pentecost-United we stand, divided we fall (Year B)

10 June 2018

In the story book Aesop’s Fables there is a story called – The Four Oxen and the Lion: A Lion used to prowl about a field where Four Oxen gathered.    Many times the lion tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so whichever way he approached… Read more

2nd Sunday after Pentecost– The Sabbath – work, rest and play (Year B)

3 June 2018

One of my favourite chocolate bars is the Mars Bar.  When I was growing up their slogan was “A Mars a day helps you work rest and play”.  I found that more enticing to having an apple that had the slogan “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”.  Regardless of the health differences, the… Read more

Holy Trinity/Thankgsgiving

27 May 2018

From an early age we are taught to say “please” and “thankyou”.  We might hold something out before a child and say – “what do you say” and we wait until they say “please”.  And as soon as we then give it to them the next question comes – “now what do you say” –… Read more

Pentecost (Year B)- Our Advocate

20 May 2018

I enjoy watching American Crime drama – shows like Law and Order, Bones, Major Crimes and others.  And one of the things that I’m always intrigued with is what they call the Miranda Rights and if they are not said at the alleged criminals arrest then any evidence or testimony gathered from them is inadmissible… Read more

Ascension (year B) – still with us.

13 May 2018

Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human to journey into outer space in 1961.  While he was so high up in the sky he is quoted as saying “I looked and looked and looked but I didn’t see God. The Ascension is often misunderstood as Jesus going up into heaven as if it is… Read more

6th Sunday of Easter (Year B)-Friends of Christ

6 May 2018

I have a bible that I received some years ago that has a page at the back for me to date and sign to indicate the day I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal saviour.  It sounds honourable and perhaps you’ve done that before.  I’m not criticising the intention but, for me, it changes the… Read more

Easter 2 (Year B) – Not living in fear

8 April 2018

Our first reading from Acts seems so different to our Gospel reading from John.  Both give an account of Jesus’ disciples gathered together after his death and resurrection – but what a difference there is in their character.   In Acts we read: With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the… Read more

Easter Sunday (Year B)

1 April 2018

Do you know what the 10 greatest fears are: FEAR OF FLYING FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING FEAR OF HEIGHTS FEAR OF THE DARK FEAR OF INTIMACY FEAR OF DEATH FEAR OF FAILURE FEAR OF REJECTION FEAR OF SPIDERS FEAR OF COMMITMENT I was rather surprised to see that fear of spiders was so low down… Read more

Easter Sunday Dawn Service-Our Lives Rebooted (Year B)

1 April 2018

Every now and then as I’m working on my computer it begins to slow down and get really sluggish. Things take longer to process – programs take longer to open.  And I realise that what I need to do is turn it off and turn it back on again to refresh it.  Sometimes our lives… Read more

Good Friday: It is finished (Year B)

30 March 2018

We wonder why Jesus ministry had to end this way. Why was it necessary for Jesus to die? They are very reasonable questions, but they are not questions that we would ask if we truly understand what Jesus promised. Take St Peter for example.  Jesus prophesied that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many… Read more

Maundy Thursday (Year B)

29 March 2018

Betrayal seems to be so common place these days in the public sphere. In politics we have seen Prime Ministers betrayed by their parties ousting them for someone more popular.  In relationships we’ve seen families betrayed such as our former Deputy Prime Minister betraying his wife and family.  In the celebrity world we have seen… Read more

Palm Sunday- My rights (Year B)

25 March 2018

The greater good is a common expression which indicates that you are doing something that most likely will not benefit you but many people.  Palm Sunday is an example of Jesus choosing the greater good rather than his own good.  On Palm Sunday we celebrate what is called Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.  But this… Read more

4th Sunday in Lent- God’s Masterpieces (Year B)

11 March 2018

I asked a year 12 student recently what their plans were for next year when they finish High School.  It was like I had asked them to prove the existence of God or to explain the meaning of life.  They had that look in their eyes that screamed – I have no idea what I’m… Read more

3rd Sunday in Lent-How foolish! (Year B)

4 March 2018

There are several Bible verses that I would call my favourite.  Today’s reading includes one of those:  Paul wrote, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles,”   Paul knew that there was an offensive side to the Christian message to those who didn’t understand – or as he called… Read more

Follow the leader

25 February 2018

One of the features of Australian politics over the past 10 years has been the instability of leadership.  In the past 10 or so years we have had the deposing of the Rudd, Gillard, Rudd Government of the Labor Party and the Abbott Turnbull deposing in the Liberal Party.  In recent times we have seen… Read more

Jesus predicts Peter’s denial

21 February 2018

As a parent I would always try to give a word of encouragement to my children before a big event.   Whether it was a sporting event or before an exam at school – I would give a word of encouragement.   “You’re going to do well” – “I have complete trust in you” – Just do… Read more

Hating sin, loving the sinner

18 February 2018

The story of Noah’s ark is a favourite among many people, particularly young children.  It is a story that is best known for the images of all the different animals lining up, two by two, to enter the ark to escape the coming flood.  It’s a story that brings out pictures of joyful scenes, happy… Read more

Faith in low times

11 February 2018

High and low experiences are part of everyday life.  When a couple gets married they vow to love each other “in sickness and in health – for better and for worse – for richer and for poorer.  It acknowledges that even in marriage there can be the highs and lows; so too in the life… Read more

True healing

4 February 2018

One of the things that I miss about my first Parish in Minyip, a rural country town in the Wimmera, is going out at night and just looking up at the night sky.  Away from the city lights you could see so much more than in metro areas.  If you looked long enough you would… Read more

True Authority

28 January 2018

American Artist Andy Warhol once said: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”, It’s where we get the saying “15 minutes of fame”. Today it seems that fame is not that uncommon with Social Media enabling people to post videos and pictures of themselves to be seen around the world by anyone…. Read more

Our merciful God

21 January 2018

Today’s Old Testament reading only gives us part of the story of Jonah’s call.  If we didn’t know the whole story of Jonah we might believe that Jonah is an exemplary servant of God who responds instantly to God’s call like Andrew, Peter, James and John in our Gospel reading.  God gave Jonah instructions to… Read more

Speak Lord your servant is listening

14 January 2018

We often hear comments that we live in godless times.  We have this image that our country was once considered a Christian country but we are slowly watching the census figures heading to below 50% of the population.  But as we look at our Old Testament reading we find that periods of darkness in relation… Read more

Finding Jesus

7 January 2018

Christmas is well and truly over for most people. Most have taken down their Christmas trees and are finishing off leftover ham and mince pies. (Ringwood) Our Christmas Tree is still up as officially Christmas season continues till Epiphany, January 6th, the original date of Christmas until the 4th Century. Many have returned to work…. Read more

Waiting for our Saviour

31 December 2017

The year ended in similar way to how it began. In January a driver used his car to drive through the streets of Melbourne killing 6 and injuring many more. In December a driver used his car to drive through the streets of Melbourne injuring almost 20 people. Throughout the year there have been many… Read more

Looking again to the manger

25 December 2017

I wonder what would have happened if Jesus were born in today’s world. In all our busyness would we have responded like the Shepherds and said: Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place. So they went with haste. Would we have been too busy? Would we want to… Read more

Our gift wrapped Saviour

24 December 2017

Christmas is a very exciting time for adults and children – for everyone. It’s a highlight of the year and part of the excitement is the giving and receiving of gifts. But it’s getting harder and harder to think of gifts to give. It seems these days that our friends and family have everything they… Read more

Expect the unexpected.

20 December 2017

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in… Read more

Peeling back the layers of Christmas

17 December 2017

I was getting my car serviced during the week and I overheard a couple of the staff chatting at the coffee machine. One said to the other – “so, are you ready for the silly-season”. You’ve probably heard similar references to Christmas including those such as – I can’t wait for Christmas to be over… Read more

Winners and Losers

10 December 2017

We live in a society that seems to be more and more categorised into winners and losers. The recent postal survey on Same Sex Marriage is a classic example. It didn’t solve the issue or bring about a consensus on the matter – it simply created winners and losers. And so we keep hearing the… Read more

Waiting and watching.

3 December 2017

We look again to God with anxious eyes this Advent. With all the difficulties in the world sometimes we can feel so inadequate in trying to make the world a better place. What difference do we make in the world? Sometimes the world’s problems seem so big that it’s like “David and Goliath” – but… Read more

Love comes to life

26 November 2017

Have you ever invited someone to church and they responded that if they ever entered a church the walls would come crashing down? Usually they say that because they believe that their way of life is more than God or the church can tolerate. In the world people have often thought the same believing the… Read more

We are family

5 November 2017

There is a saying – blood is thicker than water. It is said to indicate that when it comes to loyalties family comes first. Families in the Lutheran Church has always been important too. You may have one or more family tree books so you can trace your genealogy and work out who that 2nd… Read more

In God’s Image

22 October 2017

I love it when a baby is born and there is a scramble to identify family images in the child. Whose nose does he have? Whose eyes does she have? And as the child grows it’s interesting to watch certain mannerisms that begin to develop from both sides of the family. As parents it’s lovely… Read more

The invitation

15 October 2017

Having been involved in the preparation for our daughter Grace’s wedding earlier this year this reading today took on a new meaning for me. Usually people only see the end result of months, maybe years, of preparation that goes into the big day. Making sure everything is just right so that the day is perfect… Read more

Stewards of God’s vineyard

8 October 2017

Often when watching Current Affairs on TV you’ll see a story about a tenant of a rented property who has trashed the house and left it in a disgusting mess owing on rent. They are terrible stories of disrespect for another person’s property and a lack of appreciation for another person’s generosity towards them. In… Read more

By what authority?

1 October 2017

There is not much doubt that the church has little to no authority in today’s modern world. In Luther’s time the church was very powerful. The Pope was a person with great authority not only in the church but also in the world. Luther actually challenged the worldly power of the church when he taught… Read more

Is God Unfair?

24 September 2017

Sometimes life just isn’t fair? It’s one of the hard realities we learn early on. You can learn it in kindergarten when that child won’t share with you. You can learn it in primary school when the other children won’t play with you or you’re not invited to a birthday party. You can learn it… Read more

Forgive us our sins

17 September 2017

On the first Tuesday of every month many Australians nervously await the announcement from the Reserve Bank regarding what they are doing about interest rates. Our nation’s debt is so high that even a small rise of .25% will send many mortgages into default and households with huge credit card debts into arrears. The latest… Read more

Christian Conflict Resolution

10 September 2017

Jesus deals with a very sensitive topic today – the topic of conflict within the church. Conflict doesn’t have to be a negative experience in the church or in any form of relationship. Rather it can be an opportunity to delve deeper into a relationship. Jesus provides advice for resolving conflicts among church members which… Read more

FATHER’S DAY AND THE GIFT OF OUR FATHERS

4 September 2017

Today is Father’s Day, and given that fathers and fatherhood are in crisis in our modern western culture today, I thought I’d go “off script” so to speak, and talk a little about why fathers matter, and the unique blessings fathers provide for their families. In so doing please understand that I am not criticising… Read more

Jesus, Son of God – what does this mean?

27 August 2017

Getting into places is getting more difficult these days. At the footy you have to go through bag searches and body scans which takes such a long time. If you drive there you have even more difficulty with all the bollards that have been placed around areas to prevent the latest terrorist attacks of driving… Read more

God’s “un-fairness”

20 August 2017

Today’s encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon is often misread and even misunderstood. People are often left scratching their heads wondering about Jesus’ treatment of this woman pleading for Jesus to heal her daughter. They often ask why Jesus denies her request at first. But as I… Read more

The Deafening Silence of God.

13 August 2017

People often ask me how I became a Christian and then later on becoming a pastor. They seem a little disappointed with my answer thinking I had this huge mountain top experience or where God appeared to me in a vision to convert me and then tell me to become a pastor. Becoming a Christian;… Read more

How did he do that?

6 August 2017

I was watching the TV show – America’s Got Talent a couple of weeks ago and they had a magician as one of their acts. They chained him up and put handcuffs on him and then placed him inside a wooden box in a hole that had been previous dug. The men outside the hole… Read more

Kingdom Parables

30 July 2017

Jesus today continues his teaching in Parables and gives us 5 ways to imagine the Kingdom of Heaven: Like a mustard seed; like yeast in flour; like treasure hidden in a field; like a priceless pearl; and like a net that catches all kinds of fish. These are not just a repeat of each other… Read more

Evil mixed with good

23 July 2017

‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ That is a question that has been asked of God since the beginning of time. ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ As we hear the creation story… Read more

Generous or irresponsible Sower?

16 July 2017

When I found out that my first Parish was going to be a country town in the Wimmera called Minyip I was contacted by the chairman to see if my family and I would like to come up for a weekend to be shown around the town where I would be the Pastor. The chairman… Read more

Regretting our actions

9 July 2017

The news this week has been dominated with violence in sport where people have reacted in ways that they say was not to cause hurt but it did. It began with Richmond footballer Bachar Houli who knocked out a player when he got frustrated with him grabbing onto him. The next week Melbourne footballer Tom… Read more

The Welcoming Community

2 July 2017

Traditionally many houses have at their front door a mat for visitors to wipe their feet on. Invariably there is written on the mat “welcome”. Hence we get the term “Welcome Mat”. But then, just next to the doorbell is a different message to visitors arriving. It is a sign that says “Do Not Knock”…. Read more

Dealing with sin through Baptism

25 June 2017

The story of Isaac and Ishmael is an interesting story. God had promised Abraham a son with his wife Sarah from which would become a great nation – so numerous that no one could count them – like sand on a beach or the stars in the sky. The problem is that Abraham is nearing… Read more

God’s Mission

18 June 2017

Although last year’s census has not yet released the results for religious beliefs – it is expected that there will be a drastic decline in the number of people who identify as Christian. Part of this view is because the option of “no religion” was placed at the top of the list of options. Perhaps… Read more

Saving the best till last

11 June 2017

There is a saying that you “leave the best till last”. Sometimes it can be misused to cover up an oversight like when you’re thanking a group of people and realise you’ve missed someone and add them in later telling them “I was leaving the best till last”. Often when eating dinner I might use… Read more

God’s gift to us

4 June 2017

Every year in our household birthdays and Christmas are becoming harder and harder to find a gift to give. As children grow older and no longer scream for the latest toy that all their friends have it’s hard to find a personal gift. In this day and age with credit cards we find that people… Read more

Ascension Sunday

28 May 2017

Another week and another terrorist attack. This latest one being a bomb exploded at a concert intended for young people. The intention was to cause maximum harm to quite vulnerable children including an 8 year old there with her mother and sister to watch the concert. Over 20 dead and many more injured. The following… Read more

Confirmation Sunday

28 May 2017

I was watching the news a couple weeks ago where an item came up that in one way made me laugh but in another way made me sad. It spoke about a cyclist Luka Pibernik from Slovenia riding in the Giro D’Italia cycling race who threw his arms up in victory when he crossed the… Read more

The Unknown God made known

21 May 2017

When people find out that I am a Pastor I come across so many people who tell me that they aren’t Christian but they are spiritual people. Sometimes they even say they don’t believe in God but are spiritual. I think by spiritual they probably mean similar to what Paul encountered today when he visited… Read more

Jesus is the Way

14 May 2017

There’s a knock at the door. You open the door and there is a nicely groomed couple perhaps with a young child with them. They greet you with a smile and you suspect what it’s about. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are there to share with you about their faith. I admire their commitment and courage to… Read more

Jesus our Gate

7 May 2017

I’m always intrigued about the image used for our relationship with God that focuses on sheep and shepherd. Whereas there are some endearing pictures of Jesus the Good Shepherd carrying the lost sheep home on his shoulders the reality is that sheep are not that glamorous as an image. Sheep are considered as dumb animals…. Read more

Recognising Jesus by faith.

30 April 2017

Have you ever stopped to think about how amazing God’s creation is? I find the colours and variety in nature amazing. God could have created a world full of bland experiences but chose to have colour and beauty imbedded in his creation. God could have chosen one type of fish, one type of bird, one… Read more

Eternal Life – not a scam

16 April 2017

Rarely a day goes by when I don’t receive an email trying to lure me into a scam. They range from Lotteries that I have won that I did not enter. Or beautiful Russian women that somehow got my email address and tell me how much they want to meet me. Then there are the… Read more

Seeing by believing

16 April 2017

The resurrection cab be a confusing story and apparently was equally confusing for those who were present at the time. Mary Magdalene, whose life had been transformed by Jesus, came to the tomb early in the morning. Despite what Jesus may have said about rising from the dead, it is clear that Mary had come… Read more

Destined to die – destined for eternal life.

14 April 2017

At our community meal a few weeks ago I was chatting with one of our guest who was enjoying his cup of coffee after his meal. We have lots of chats about politics, religion and sport – the 3 topics that you say you shouldn’t talk about. As he was sipping his coffee I made… Read more

True Evangelism

13 April 2017

Evangelism is a word that is on the tips of the tongues of all churches. Churches are feeling the pressure of declining memberships and are looking at ways to attract new members. There are many reasons why people no longer feel that church is part of their life. People are too busy for church. Church… Read more

Quick Change

9 April 2017

There is a saying that if you don’t like Melbourne weather, just wait half an hour and it will change. I’ve found myself these past few weeks starting off the day with jumper and heater – only to be ripping them off before midday and putting the air conditioning on and then getting home and… Read more

Jesus, the final Word.

2 April 2017

Today’s gospel reading is again a very long reading but at the heart of message is the question or statement made by both Mary and Martha and also the crowd to Jesus. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Mary came where Jesus was and… Read more

Big isn’t always better

26 March 2017

On the front page of the Knox Leader newspaper there was an article which really interested me. And its opening paragraph read: RELIGION is booming in Knox with people flocking to weekend services and the city’s biggest churches looking at major expansion plans to cope with demand. Knox’s CityLife Church is creating a new $11… Read more

Is the Lord among us or not?

19 March 2017

What do you expect when you come along to church? Do you expect to come away feeling like you’ve just had the most amazing experience ever being blessed by being in the presence of God? Do you feel like you’ve had that mountain top experience like Peter, James and John when Jesus appeared before them… Read more

The journey of faith

12 March 2017

Our Bible reading today includes one of the most well-known bible verses – John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. It is often referred to as the Gospel in a nutshell. It contains… Read more

Living with temptation

5 March 2017

It is interesting that immediately after such an important moment of Jesus’ life – God’s public announcement at Jesus’ baptism – this is my Son whom I love – that he then faced a major upheaval in his life. God’s Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days where he was tempted by… Read more

Listen to HIM.

26 February 2017

Over the past few weeks we have heard Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It has had some challenging commands like turning the other cheek and loving your enemy. We heard that being angry breaks the command “do not murder”. They were hard and challenging. Now we hear one more command directly from God himself. And… Read more

Hidden greatness

19 February 2017

My father and I often have quite interesting discussions on politics and world news. My father comes from a Middle Eastern background so his solution to crime is quite simplistic. If they steal something – cut off their hands. They won’t steal again. That sort of logic is rife in our society and not just… Read more

Keeping the Spirit of the Law

12 February 2017

Sometimes I find the 10 commandments very easy. After all, I’ve never murdered anyone. I love my parents. I have been faithful in my marriage. I don’t bear false witness against my neighbour. I have never coveted my neighbour’s house or my neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or… Read more

Pass the salt please

5 February 2017

When I read the bible reading for today the first thing I did was googled “can salt lose its saltiness. Apart from the bible reading I’ve never heard of it before – and apparently no one else had either. According to the responses that I read it was said – salt simply can’t lose its… Read more

True Greatness from God

29 January 2017

The phrase which we heard over and over again during the American Presidential campaign by Donald Trump and in his inauguration speech was “make America great”. And he said that the way he was going to do that was by “putting Americans first”. Making America Great – Putting Americans First. Basically he is saying that… Read more

An uneasy call

22 January 2017

230 years ago a fleet of 11 ships was sent from England to Australia to establish a penal colony for the sending of prisoners. On January 26th this week we remember that occasion as we commemorate Australia Day. Just 50 years later Lutherans in Prussia would set sail to Australia to avoid becoming prisoners in… Read more

What will 2016 be remembered for?

1 January 2017

What will 2016 be remembered for? For many it will be one of the worst years of terrorist attacks. It’s estimated around 1500 have been killed and 3500 injured in terrorist attacks around the world. Or perhaps it will be remembered for the celebrity deaths such as Carrie Fischer and her mother Debbie Reynolds, singers… Read more

True God and True Human

18 December 2016

On the surface it seems that Joseph has 2 choices. He can abide by the Law of Moses and hand over Mary to be judged with the likely result being Mary is stoned to death for adultery. Maybe this is why Jesus has so much compassion for the woman caught in adultery during his mission… Read more

Should we expect another?

11 December 2016

Have you ever bought something you’ve seen advertised and then been disappointed once you’ve gotten it home? Over the years I’ve fallen for a few items on TV shopping. As I’m pounding my way on the cross-trainer at the gym there is an ad on the TV above me showing people standing on a vibrating… Read more

The God of all hope

4 December 2016

Of all the qualities that Paul could have assigned to God it’s interesting that he refers to God as a God of hope. We live in a world where hope is sought after so badly in so many ways because people want to be sure about their future. Knowing that their future is secure gives… Read more

Hope for Christians

13 November 2016

Sometimes you get a bible reading where it’s really hard to say “this is the Gospel of the Lord – praise to you O Christ”. Today’s Gospel reading appears to be one of them. Jesus speaks about terrible times ahead for the world but then says that Christians will not only be part of the… Read more

God of the opposites

6 November 2016

In the Superman comics there is a planet called Bizarro World. It is a world where everything is the opposite of planet earth. Instead of being a round planet it is a cube. Instead of loving beauty they praise ugliness. As I read the Gospel today it seems to me that Jesus is describing Bizarro… Read more

50 years of Unity

30 October 2016

Quite often when I attend a Lutheran function I have to explain how a person with a surname like mine ended up, not just in the Lutheran Church but as a Pastor of the Lutheran Church. Surnames are an important heritage of the Lutheran Church because it identifies you with a particular family line that… Read more

Being made right before God

23 October 2016

Is the Pharisee’s prayer that bad? On the surface he sounds like a good and righteous man who does more than most. He observes the evils of the world around him and doesn’t get involved. He gives thanks to God that he is not like the rest of humanity: greedy dishonest, adulterous….”  He is a… Read more

Nagging God with prayer

16 October 2016

If you’re a parent then the chances are you’ve experienced the supermarket meltdown where your child has had a tantrum because they really want that chocolate that the supermarket has strategically placed at the checkout. Or if you’re not a parent then perhaps you’ve seen a struggling parent with their child. You’ve carefully avoided the… Read more

Jesus brings justice

2 October 2016

A new and controversial law was passed in Victoria this week. People who drop their pants to show their backside in public face up to six months in jail with new laws introduced to ban the cheeky practice known as “mooning”. First-time offenders face up to two months in jail while repeat offenders could spend… Read more

Reversal of fortunes

25 September 2016

Once again we have a story that seems to be about money. One could easily be led to believe from this parable that the poor go to heaven and the rich go to hell. But the rich man wasn’t judged because he was rich and neither was the poor man rewarded because he was poor…. Read more

Pentecost 18

18 September 2016

One cannot help but call the manager in our parable today a rogue. Firstly he has mismanaged his master’s accounts. How, we don’t know. But then, when his mismanagement is discovered and he is sacked, he uses his master’s accounts to provide for his own future. When he is found out you would think that… Read more

Even worst of sinners are forgiven

11 September 2016

September 11 always brings back haunting memories of the day we woke to hear about the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. It’s been 15 years since it happened but to many it is like it only happened yesterday. To date we still feel the effects. The heightened security. You go to the football… Read more

A love hate relationship

4 September 2016

Have you ever been caught out by an unexpected cost? Have you ever bought a cheap printer for your computer only to find that when the ink runs out the replacement costs more than the price you paid for the printer? Or have you ever bought something cheap off the internet only to find it… Read more

The seat of honour

28 August 2016

The Olympics are over and now the fallout has begun. Australia won 29 medals in Rio, at a cost of $11,434,910 per medal. People are now starting to ask questions demanding answers and accountability and whose fault for our lack of success. We expected better. We ended up 10th we expected 5th and many are… Read more