This Sunday’s text (Matthew 4:12-23) considers the magnetic call of Jesus of Nazareth to those around him – a summons that has extended down the centuries with ever-increasing pulling power. This is one of our favourite songs at Wembley Downs. I love the lyrics! It’s by John Bell of the Iona Community in Scotland andContinue reading “The Summons”
Category Archives: Personal
Christ Has No Online Presence but Yours
Have a look at and consider this worthy 21st Century adaptation of St Teresa of Avila‘s work. Click on Christ Has No Online Presence but Yours. The original text of this 16th century Carmelite mystic reads: Christ Has No Body Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours areContinue reading “Christ Has No Online Presence but Yours”
Unanswered prayers
Not a terribly good week so far. Two people within our circle of concern have died following debilitating illness, both leaving young families. Another’s grandson has received a long prison sentence. Some are wondering about the effect of long and sustained prayers for these individuals and their families. Where is God in all this andContinue reading “Unanswered prayers”
Motivational Cleanup!
Gotta cleanup the wall behind my desk. It’s full of photos, quotes, motivational stuff and prayer joggers. Some I’ll keep, some I’ll change. But what to do with this one? I would prefer to be able to say: ‘I am satiated, What is given to taste in this life, I have tasted.’ But I amContinue reading “Motivational Cleanup!”
Work is cranking up again!
The Christmas New Year hiatus, in the life of the congregation here, seems to last about three weeks. For me, this used to be vacation time, along with most of the rest of Australia. Some time ago, I decided this wasn’t the best idea. Recessed programs could have one sitting back and twiddling one’s thumbsContinue reading “Work is cranking up again!”
Praying for Tunisia
Churches around the world who participate in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle will focus this coming week on the North African nations of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, the Western Sahara and Tunisia. Tunisia is very much in the news right now; rioting as the result of widespread dissent has led to the sacking of the government andContinue reading “Praying for Tunisia”
Responding to Natural Disasters
After checking on family and friends in the Queensland danger zones, I now turn to a question that has arisen in several forums over the last day or two – “but this is what underdeveloped countries are facing constantly, and they don’t have the infrastructures in place to respond as we do.” On this day,Continue reading “Responding to Natural Disasters”
Fire & Flood
While Perth endures a highly- fueled bush fire season, Australia’s other natural nemesis is making it’s presence known in Carnarvon and even more devastatingly in the eastern states. Incoming news reports speak of the unfolding drama affecting thousands of people in south-western Queensland, the well populated areas from Toowoomba to Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Even though theContinue reading “Fire & Flood”
What happens when we pray for others?
If you have moved beyond the idea of prayer as some sort of cosmic slot machine – where you put in a request and hope that a combination of piety, good will and divine mood will line up and discharge a favourable response – then what do you expect happens when you pray – particularlyContinue reading “What happens when we pray for others?”
Cultivating Mindfulness
Every so often a word grabs attention because it seems alien to everyday speech, yet begins to appear prolifically. It begs investigation. Yesterday “mindfulness” appeared frequently in a Virtues Project workshop hosted at our church. Later in the evening, I received an unrelated invitation to complete the final phase of a survey being conducted byContinue reading “Cultivating Mindfulness”
Wondering Pilgrim 