Blog

On our recent holiday, our family spent considerable time walking through lush, green Kiwi bush. Kauris, Tawas, and Rimus towered overhead, bedecked with epiphytes, as we wandered through a forest floor clogged with fernery in all shapes and sizes. Every now and then we would see the brilliant white underside of New Zealand's national emblem, the Silver Fern, lying amongs...

Some of you may have seen the first episode of the SBS documentary 'Christian Like Us' that aired last week. For those who haven't, imagine a documentary wanting to show "Modern Australian Christianity". Having watched episode 1, I can't help but feel the producers were only really interested in promoting "socially-acceptable religion". True, condensing a week of live foo...

Last Sunday our Church family welcomed new members and farewelling Christine Dillon as she prepares to leave for Taiwan. As I looked at the new members, I cannot help but wonder "how did you become a follower of Christ, who was your encourager?" If each one would write their story for our weekly bulletin we could get to know them better. I looked over at Christine and wo...

Dallas Willard, best-selling Christian author and academic, was a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California for 47 years. During that time, he must have engaged in countless discussions with brash, young university students. John Ortberg shared one of those interactions as he gave a tribute at Dallas Willard's funeral in 2013: In one of his classes...

Leah has been working as a vet for the past three years. University Vet School, whilst invaluable, must be a million miles away from the reality of handling needy animals and their anxious, wallet restrained owners, week in and week out. No doubt Leah has learnt a lot. So I asked her: 'What have you learnt from the animals?' I was expecting something like 'Their remarkabl...

The Apostle Paul was the greatest missionary the world has ever seen. Called by the Lord Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, gifted and prepared by God, Paul travelled the Roman Empire preaching the gospel and starting churches wherever he went. These churches, in turn, grew into Spirit filled communities that proclaimed the Lordship of Jesus and served their neighbours i...

Anna and I were in Scotland when I finally finished a heavy non-fiction book I had been lugging around. I decided my next book would be a light, non-confrontational piece of fiction. So off to the bookshop I go. Before long I'm pouring over shelves and displays, looking at titles and authors and cover designs. Nothing grabs my attention. So off to another bookshop, and an...

My great, great grandparents, Thomas and Ellen Macindoe, married in the Barony Church Glasgow in the mid-1860's. Its minister was Rev. Dr. Norman MacLeod. MacLeod served the Barony Church from 1851 until his death in 1872. During that time the church experienced considerable growth. MacLeod also became Moderator of the Church of Scotland, helped found the Evangelical Alli...

My great, great grandfather, Thomas Macindoe, lived in Glasgow, Scotland over 150 years ago. One day his flatmate showed him a photo of pretty girl. Thomas was impressed and kept teasing, asking to meet the girl. His friend said, 'No. She's mine'. And then. One Sabbath morning my fellow lodger asked if I would go with him to the church he attended, and I had no objection ...

It was totally ordinary. I was driving away from our house, as I have done thousands of times before, listening to music on the Christian radio station, HOPE 103.2. Next on cue was a devotion - Linda Bailey. Never heard of her. She had a sweet voice. I didn't want to listen to a sweet voice. 'Nup', I thought, 'I'm out of here. Time to change the channel'. But I didn't. I...